Style His Excellency Formation 30 November 1966 | Appointer Monarch of Barbados First holder Sir John Montague Stow | |
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Residence Government House, Barbados Term length At Her Majesty's pleasure | ||
The Governor-General of Barbados is a vice-regal representative of the Barbadian monarch (presently Queen Elizabeth II). Under the government's Table of Precedence for Barbados, the Governor-General of Barbados is regarded as being the most important of all personnel of the Barbados government.
Contents
The office is accorded legitimacy by Chapter IV of the Constitution of Barbados. The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of Barbados. The Governor-General exercises executive powers and who assents to bills in the monarch's name before they can become promulgated into law. The Barbados constitution limits the powers of the Governor-General (known as a constitutional monarchy system of governance). This effectively limits the powers of the Queen, as it does the Governor-General, who, in most instances, exercises authority on the advice of the prime minister or other persons or bodies within Barbados.
The Office of the Governor-General was established when Barbados gained independence in 1966. Since the settlement of Barbados by the British, Barbados has had 68 Governors and subsequently 6 Governors-General.
Duties
The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints a Governor-General to be her representative in Barbados. Both the Queen and the Governor-General hold much power of the country, though it is rarely used unilaterally; it is usually only used in such a way in emergencies and in some cases war.
The Governor-General represents the Queen on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of parliament and the presentation of honours and military parades. Under the constitution, the Governor-General is given authority to act in some matters; for example, in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service, granting "any person convicted of any offence against the laws of Barbados a pardon", and in proroguing parliament. But, in only a few cases is the Governor-General empowered to act entirely on his own discretion.
The Governor-General of Barbados also chairs the Privy Council of Barbados.
List of Governors-General of Barbados
On 30 November 1966, Barbados achieved independence from Britain.
Official oath of office
According to the First Schedule section of the Constitution of Barbados, the official Oath of office for the Governor-General of Barbados is as follows: