Mottley hints at early 2026 polls
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has given the clearest indication yet that Barbadians could be going to the polls early next year.
Though elections are not constitutionally due until 2027, Mottley has put supporters of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to be ready for work early next year, fuelling speculation about a general election a year ahead of schedule.
Mottley, addressing a cocktail reception hosted at her official residence, Ilaro Court, on Thursday night, said: “Whilst there is work to be done, there is work for the Barbados Labour Party and its soldiers to do, and we are all turning up for work in 2026. We are all turning up for work in 2026, because if something can be done, it is this Barbados Labour Party that will do it, always, always, always.
“I want you, therefore, to have a restful Christmas, a Merry Christmas, because when I start to call on you, I don’t want you to tell me that you are tired. And when I start to call on you, I don’t want you to tell me anything other than ‘Prime Minister, we are ready. We are red and ready. We are red, red, red and ready, ready, ready’,” she said to loud applause.
The prime minister also pointed to recent economic performance as evidence of national progress, while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
“We have seen it come from the economic doldrums. We have now had 17 straight quarters of growth, we have the lowest unemployment ever in the history of our nation, we no longer go to sleep worrying about foreign reserves; our foreign reserves are the highest they’ve ever been,” she maintained.
If elections are called next year, it would mark the second consecutive time Mottley, who led the BLP to landslide 30-0 victories in both the 2018 and 2022 general elections, has dissolved Parliament with a year remaining in her term.
Political scientist Peter Wickham recently told Barbados TODAY that a 2026 election was highly likely, pointing to Mottley’s track record of early polls.
The BLP recently nominated candidates to fly the party’s flag in the St Thomas and St Joseph constituencies, replacing long standing Members of Parliament who are not contesting the next general election.
