Mia Amor Mottley on course for third term, as Barbados heads to the polls

"Barbados prime minister and global climate action champion, Mia Amor Mottley, is on course for a third consecutive term in office, forecasts suggest, as voters head to the polls on Wednesday. Mottley is the country's first female leader since its independence in 1966, and her strong international advocacy for climate action and support for small and vulnerable nations have made her an influential and popular global and regional leader, experts say."

"In a recent nationwide poll, nearly 80% of the decided voters interviewed said they would vote for Mottley's ruling Barbados Labour party (BLP). The survey, commissioned by local outlets the Nation and Starcom, also gauged support for party leaders and found that 61.2% of respondents favoured Mottley, compared with only 18% for the leader of the opposition Democratic Labour party (DLP), Ralph Thorne. Only about 10% said they would consider voting outside the two main parties."

"A high cost of living and crime were identified as some of the most pressing concerns for voters, with the DLP accusing the government of broken promises, and pledging to prioritise crime reduction, reduce taxes and improve affordability. The BLP has defended its record, arguing that it has kept its pledges to voters, despite facing international crises, global uncertainty and volatility brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, volcanic eruptions and tropical storms."

Mia Amor Mottley is positioned to win a third consecutive term as prime minister, with strong poll leads for her Barbados Labour Party. Polling showed nearly 80% of decided voters backing the BLP and 61.2% favouring Mottley compared with 18% for the opposition leader. The poll also indicated voter apathy, with nearly half saying they were undecided or would not vote. Voters cited high cost of living and crime as top concerns. The opposition promised crime reduction, tax cuts and improved affordability. The BLP defended its record, citing resilience through global crises. Real GDP grew 4.0% in 2024.

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