Preamble, Motives for writing constitution
Preamble
Whereas the love of free institutions and of independence has always strongly characterised the inhabitants of Barbados:
And Whereas the Governor and the said inhabitants settled a Parliament in the year 1639:
Reference to country's history
And Whereas as early as 18th February, 1651 those inhabitants, in their determination to safeguard the freedom, safety and well-being of the Island, declared, through their Governor, Lords of the Council and members of the Assembly, their independence of the Commonwealth of England:
Reference to country's history
And Whereas the rights and privileges of the said inhabitants were confirmed by articles of agreement, commonly known as the Charter of Barbados, had, made and concluded on 11th January, 1652 by and between the Commissioners of the Right Honourable the Lord Willoughby of Parham, Governor, of the one part, and the Commissioners on behalf of the Commonwealth of England, of the other part, in order to the rendition to the Commonwealth of England of the said Island of Barbados:
Reference to country's history
And Whereas with the broadening down of freedom the people of Barbados have ever since then not only successfully resisted any attempt to impugn or diminish those rights and privileges so confirmed, but have consistently enlarged and extended them:
Reference to country's history, Source of constitutional authority
Now, therefore, the people of Barbados
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Human dignity, God or other deities
proclaim that they are a sovereign nation founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity of the human person, their unshakeable faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms and the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions;
- affirm their belief that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law;
- declare their intention to establish and maintain a society in which all persons may, to the full extent of their capacity, play a due part in the institutions of the national life;
- resolve that the operation of the economic system shall promote the general welfare by the equitable distribution of the material resources of the community, by the human conditions under which all men shall labour and by the undeviating recognition of ability, integrity and merit;
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Source of constitutional authority
desire that the following provisions shall have effect as the Constitution of Barbados—
CHAPTER II. CITIZENSHIP
Requirements for birthright citizenship
2
- Every person who, having been born in Barbados, is on 29th November, 1966 a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies shall become a citizen of Barbados on 30th November, 1966.
- Every person who, having been born outside Barbados, is on 29th November, 1966 a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies shall, if his father becomes or would but for his death have become a citizen of Barbados in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1), become a citizen of Barbados on 30th November, 1966.
- Any person who on 29th November 1966 is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies,
- having become such a citizen under the British Nationality Act 1948 by virtue of his having been naturalised in Barbados as a British subject before that Act came into force; or
- having become such a citizen by virtue of his having been naturalised or registered in Barbados under that Act,
shall become a citizen of Barbados on 30th November 1966.
Requirements for naturalization
3
- Any woman who on 29th November is or has been married to a person—
- who becomes a citizen of Barbados by virtue of section 2; or
- who, having died before 30th November 1966, would but for his death have become a citizen of Barbados by virtue of that section,
shall be entitled, upon making application, and, if she is a British protected person or an alien, upon taking the oath of allegiance, to be registered as a citizen of Barbados.
- Any person who is a Commonwealth citizen (otherwise than by virtue of being a citizen of Barbados) and who—
- has been ordinarily resident in Barbados continuously for a period of seven years or more at any time before 30th November 1966; and
- has not, since such period of residence in Barbados and before that date, been ordinarily resident outside Barbados continuously for a period of seven years or more,
shall be entitled, upon making application, to be registered as a citizen of Barbados.
- Any woman who on 29th November 1966 is or has been married to a person who subsequently becomes a citizen of Barbados by registration under subsection (2) shall be entitled, upon making application, and, if she is a British protected person or an alien, upon taking the oath of allegiance, to be registered as a citizen of Barbados.
- Any application for registration under this section shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed as respects that application:
Provided that such an application may not be made by a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years and is not a woman who is or has been married, but shall be made on behalf of that person by a parent or guardian of that person.
- The right to be registered as a citizen of Barbados under this section shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.
Requirements for naturalization
3A
- The following descriptions of person also have the right upon application to be registered as citizens of Barbados, namely—
- a person who has been ordinarily resident in Barbados throughout the period of ten years (or such longer period as may be prescribed) immediately preceding that person's application;
- a person who has been married to a citizen of Barbados, and has cohabited with that citizen, for such period as may be prescribed immediately preceding that person's application.
- A person who has a right to be registered under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) by virtue of marriage to a spouse who is a citizen of Barbados does not lose that right if the spouse dies before the expiry of the period provided for by or under that paragraph.
- The dissolution, or the annulment or other avoidance by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, of the marriage of a person who has been registered as a citizen of Barbados under subsection (1)(b) does not affect that person's citizenship of Barbados.
- The right to be registered as a citizen of Barbados under this section is subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.
- A person who is under eighteen years of age and is not a woman who is or has been married may not make an application for registration under this section; that person's parent or guardian must make the application.
- An application for registration under this section shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed.
- Before a certificate or other official mark of citizenship of Barbados may be issued to a person pursuant to provision made under this section, that person must have taken the oath of allegiance before an officer of the Immigration Department in that officer's capacity as a Justice of the Peace.
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Requirements for birthright citizenship
Every person born in Barbados after 29th November 1966 shall become a citizen of Barbados at the date of his birth:
Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Barbados by virtue of this section if at the time of his birth—
- his father possesses such immunity from suit and legal process as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign State accredited to Her Majesty in right of Her Government in Barbados and neither of his parents is a citizen of Barbados; or
- his father is an enemy alien and the birth occurs in a place then under occupation by the enemy.
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Requirements for birthright citizenship
A person born outside Barbados after 29th November 1966 shall be deemed to be a citizen of Barbados within section 4 at the date of his birth if he is born to a citizen of Barbados who at the date of the birth is in the service of Barbados in a diplomatic or consular capacity.
Requirements for birthright citizenship
5
- A person born outside Barbados after 29th November 1966 shall become a citizen of Barbados at the date of his birth if at that date his father is a citizen of Barbados otherwise than by virtue of this section or section 2(2).
- Subject to subsection (1) and without derogating from, or in any way affecting, that subsection, a person born outside Barbados after 29th November 1966 shall become a citizen of Barbados at the date of his birth if at the date of the birth at least one of his parents is a citizen of Barbados who was born in Barbados.
Requirements for naturalization
6
- Any woman who, after 29th November 1966, marries a person who is or becomes a citizen of Barbados shall be entitled, upon making application in such manner as may be prescribed and, if she is a British protected person or an alien, upon taking the oath of allegiance, to be registered as a citizen of Barbados.
- The right to be registered as a citizen of Barbados under this section shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.
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Right to renounce citizenship
Any citizen of Barbados who has attained the age of eighteen years and who
- is also a citizen or national of any other country; or
- intends to become a citizen or national of any other country,
shall be entitled to renounce his citizenship of Barbados by a declaration made and registered in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that
- in the case of a person who is not a citizen or national of any other country at the date of registration of his declaration of renunciation, if he does not become such a citizen or national within six months from the date of registration he shall be, and shall be deemed to have remained, a citizen of Barbados notwithstanding the making and registration of his declaration of renunciation; and
- the right of any person to renounce his citizenship of Barbados during any period when Barbados is engaged in any war shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.
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- Every person who under this Constitution or any Act of Parliament is a citizen of Barbados or under any enactment for the time being in force in any country to which this section applies is a citizen of that country shall, by virtue of that citizenship, have the status of a Commonwealth citizen.
- Every person who is a British subject without citizenship under the British Nationality Act 1948, continues to be a British subject under section 2 of that Act or is a British subject under the British Nationality Act 1965 shall, by virtue of that status, have the status of a Commonwealth citizen.
- This section applies to the countries specified or certified as Commonwealth countries in or under an Act of Parliament relating to membership of the Commonwealth.
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Conditions for revoking citizenship, Requirements for naturalization
Parliament may make provision
- for the acquisition of citizenship of Barbados by persons who do not become citizens of Barbados by virtue of the provisions of this Chapter; or
- for depriving of his citizenship of Barbados any person who is a citizen of Barbados otherwise than by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) of section 2 or section 4 or section 5.
10
- In this Chapter
- "alien" means a person who is not a Commonwealth citizen, a British protected person or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland;
"British protected person" means a person who is a British protected person for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1948;
"prescribed" means prescribed by or under any Act of Parliament.
- Any reference in this Chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to any person born out of wedlock other than a person legitimated before 30th November 1966, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person.
- For the purposes of this Chapter, a person born abroad a registered ship or aircraft, or abroad an unregistered ship or aircraft of the government of any country, shall be deemed to have been born in the place in which the ship or aircraft was registered or, as the case may be, in that country.
- Any reference in this Chapter to the national status of the father of a person at the time of that person’s birth, shall, in relation to a person born after the death of the father, be construed as a reference to the national status of the father at the time of the father’s death; and where that death occurred before 30th November 1966 and the birth occurred after 29th November 1966 the national status that the father would have had if he had died on 30th November 1966 shall be deemed to be his national status at the time of his death.
CHAPTER III. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
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Equality regardless of race, Right to privacy, Equality regardless of political party, Equality regardless of creed or belief, General guarantee of equality, Equality regardless of origin, Equality regardless of skin color, Equality regardless of gender
Whereas every person in Barbados is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely-
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Right to life
life, liberty and security of the person;
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Protection from expropriation
protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation;
- the protection of the law; and
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Freedom of association, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression, Freedom of opinion/thought/conscience
freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association,
the following provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to those rights and freedoms subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.
Right to life
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- No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Barbados of which he has been convicted.
- A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section if he dies as the result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably justifiable-
- for the defence of any person from violence or for the defence of property ;
- in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained;
- for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny; or
- in order lawfully to prevent the commission by that person of a criminal offence,
or if he dies as the result of a lawful act of war.
Protection from unjustified restraint
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- No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty save as may be authorised by law in any of the following cases, that is to say-
- in consequence of his unfitness to plead to a criminal charge or in execution of the sentence or order of a court, whether established for Barbados or some other country, in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been convicted ;
- in execution of an order of the High Court or the Court of Appeal or such other court as may be prescribed by Parliament punishing him for contempt of any such court or of another court or tribunal;
- in execution of the order of a court made to secure the fulfilment of any obligation imposed on him by law;
- for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court;
- upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the law of Barbados ;
- in the case of a person who has not attained the age of twenty-one years, under the order of a court or with the consent of his parent or guardian, for the purpose of his education or welfare ;
- for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease;
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Drugs, alcohol, and illegal substances
in the case of a person who is, or is reasonably suspected to be, of unsound mind, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or a vagrant, for the purpose of his care or treatment or the protection of the community;
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Extradition procedure
for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of that person into Barbados, or for the purpose of effecting the expulsion, extradition or other lawful removal of that person from Barbados or for the purpose of restricting that person while he is being conveyed through Barbados in the course of his extradition or removal as a convicted prisoner from one country to another; or
- to such extent as may be necessary in the execution of a lawful order requiring that person to remain within a specified area within Barbados or prohibiting him from being within such an area, or to such extent as may be reasonably justifiable for the taking of proceedings against that person with a view to the making of any such order or relating to such an order after it has been made or to such extent as may be reasonably justifiable for restraining that person during any visit that he is permitted to make to any part of Barbados in which, in consequence of any such order, his presence would otherwise be unlawful.
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Right to counsel, Privileges for juveniles in criminal process
Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands, of the reasons for his arrest or detention and shall be permitted, at his own expense, to retain and instruct without delay a legal adviser of his own choice, being a person entitled to practise in Barbados as an attorney-at-law, and to hold private communication with him; and in the case of a person who has not attained the age of sixteen years he shall also be afforded a reasonable opportunity for communication with his parent or guardian.
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Right to pre-trial release
Any person who is arrested or detained-
- for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court; or
- upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence,
and who is not released, shall be brought before a court as soon as is reasonably practicable; and if any person arrested or detained upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence is not tried within a reasonable time, then, without prejudice to any further proceedings which may be brought against him, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions, including in particular such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a later date for trial or for proceedings preliminary to trial.
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Protection from false imprisonment
Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person shall be entitled to compensation therefor from that other person.
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Emergency provisions
Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of the foregoing provisions of this section to the extent that the law in question authorises the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency.
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Emergency provisions
Where a person is detained by virtue of such a law as is referred to in subsection (5), the following provisions shall apply-
- he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case not more than five days after the commencement of his detention, be furnished with a statement in writing, in a language that he understands, of the grounds upon which he is detained;
- not more than fourteen days after the commencement of his detention, a notification shall be published in the Gazette stating that he has been detained and giving particulars of the provision of law under which his detention is authorised;
- he may from time to time request that his case be reviewed under paragraph (d) but, where he has made such a request, no subsequent request shall be made before the expiration of three months from the making of the previous request;
- where a request is made under paragraph (c), the case shall, within one month of the making of the request, be reviewed by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law and presided over by a person appointed by the Chief Justice from among persons entitled to practise in Barbados as attorneys-at-law; and
- he shall be afforded reasonable facilities to consult and instruct, at his own expense, a legal adviser of his own choice, being a person entitled to practise as aforesaid, and he and any such legal adviser shall be permitted to make written or oral representations or both to the tribunal appointed for the review of his case.
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Emergency provisions
On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of subsection (6) of the case of any detained person, the tribunal may make recommendations concerning the necessity or expediency of continuing his detention to the authority by whom it was ordered, but, unless it is otherwise provided by law, that authority shall not be obliged to act in accordance with any such recommendations.
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Emergency provisions
When any person is detained by virtue of such a law as is referred to in subsection (5), the Prime Minister or a Minister authorised by him shall, not more than thirty days after the commencement of the detention and thereafter not more than thirty days after the making of the previous report, make a report to each House stating the number of persons detained as aforesaid and the number of cases in which the authority that ordered the detention has not acted in accordance with the recommendations of a tribunal appointed in pursuance of subsection (6):
Provided that in reckoning any period of thirty days for the purposes of this subsection no account shall be taken of any period during which Parliament stands prorogued or dissolved.
Prohibition of slavery
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- No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.
- No person shall be required to perform forced labour.
- For the purposes of this section, the expression “forced labour” does not include—
- any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court;
- any labour required of any person while he is lawfully detained that, though not required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained;
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Right to conscientious objection
any labour required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to service as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labour that that person is required by law to perform in place of such service; or
- any labour required during any period when Barbados is at war or in the event of any hurricane, earthquake, flood, fire or other like calamity that threatens the life or well-being of the community, to the extent that the requiring of such labour is reasonably justifiable, in the circumstances of any situation arising or existing during that period or as a result of that calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that situation.
Prohibition of torture, Prohibition of cruel treatment
15
- No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question authorises the infliction of any punishment or the administration of any treatment that was lawful in Barbados immediately before 30th November 1966.
- The following shall not be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section:
- the imposition of a mandatory sentence of death or the execution of such a sentence;
- any delay in executing a sentence of death imposed on a person in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Barbados of which he has been convicted;
- the holding of any person who is in prison, or otherwise lawfully detained, pending execution of a sentence of death imposed on that person, in conditions, or under arrangements, which immediately before 5th September, 2002-
- were prescribed by or under the Prisons Act, as then in force; or
- were otherwise practised in Barbados,
in relation to persons so in prison or so detained.
Protection from expropriation
16
- No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any description shall be compulsorily acquired, except by or under the authority of a written law, and where provision applying to that acquisition or taking of possession is made by a written law—
- prescribing the principles on which and the manner in which compensation therefor is to be determined and given; and
- giving to any person claiming such compensation a right of access, either directly or by way of appeal, for the determination of his interest in or right over the property and the amount of compensation, to the High Court.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section-
- to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the taking of possession or acquisition of any property-
- in satisfaction of any tax, duty, rate, cess or other impost;
- by way of penalty for breach of the law or forfeiture in consequence of a breach of the law;
- as an incident of a lease, tenancy, mortgage, charge, bill of sale, pledge, contract, grant, permission or licence;
- in the execution of judgments or orders of a court in proceedings for the determination of civil rights or obligations;
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Protection of environment
in circumstances where it is reasonably necessary so to do because the property is in a dangerous state or injurious to the health of human beings, animals or plants;
- in consequence of any law with respect to the limitation of actions; or
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Protection of environment
for so long only as may be necessary for the purposes of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in the case of land, for the purposes of the carrying out thereon of work of soil conservation or the conservation of other natural resources or work relating to agricultural development or improvement; or
- to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the taking of possession or acquisition of-
- enemy property;
- property of a deceased person, a person of unsound mind or a person who has not attained the age of twenty-one years, for the purpose of its administration for the benefit of the persons entitled to the beneficial interest therein ;
- property of a person adjudged insolvent or a body corporate in liquidation, for the purpose of its administration for the benefit of the creditors of the insolvent person or body corporate and, subject thereto, for the benefit of other persons entitled to the beneficial interest in the property; or
- property subject to a trust, for the purpose of vesting the property in persons appointed as trustees under the instrument creating the trust or by a court or, by order of a court, for the purpose of giving effect to the trust.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the orderly marketing or production or growth or extraction of any agricultural product or mineral or any article or thing prepared for market or manufactured therefor or for the reasonable restriction of the use of any property in the interest of safeguarding the interests of others or the protection of tenants, licensees or others having rights in or over such property.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the compulsory taking possession in the public interest of any property, or the compulsory acquisition in the public interest of any interest in or right over property, where that property, interest or right is held by a body corporate established directly by law for public purposes in which no monies have been invested other than monies provided by Parliament or by any Legislature established for the former Colony of Barbados.
Right to privacy, Regulation of evidence collection
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- Except with his own consent, no person shall be subjected to the search of his person or his property or the entry by others on his premises.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision that is reasonably required-
- in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, town or country planning, the development or utilisation of mineral resources, or the development or utilisation of any other property in such manner as to promote the public benefit;
- for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons ;
- for the purpose of authorising an officer or agent of the Government, or of a local government authority or of a body corporate established directly by law for public purposes to enter on the premises of any person in order to inspect those premises or anything thereon for the purpose of any tax, duty, rate, cess or other impost or in order to carry out work connected with any property that is lawfully on those premises and that belongs to the Government or that authority or body corporate, as the case may be;
- for the purpose of authorising the entry upon any premises in pursuance of an order of a court for the purpose of enforcing the judgment or order of a court in any proceedings; or
- for the purpose of authorising the entry upon any premises for the purpose of preventing or detecting criminal offences.
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Right to fair trial, Judicial independence, Right to speedy trial
If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.
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Trial in native language of accused, Presumption of innocence in trials, Right to examine evidence/witnesses, Right to counsel
Every person who is charged with a criminal offence-
- shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty;
- shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands and in detail, of the nature of the offence charged;
- shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
- shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or by a legal representative of his own choice;
- shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the court and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court on the same conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution; and
- shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial of the charge,
and, except with his consent, the trial shall not take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself as to render the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court has ordered the trial to proceed in his absence.
- When a person is tried for any criminal offence, the accused person or any person authorised by him in that behalf shall, if he so requires and subject to payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by law, be given within a reasonable time after judgment a copy for the use of the accused person of any record of the proceedings made by or on behalf of the court.
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Protection from ex post facto laws
No person shall be held to be guilty of a criminal offence on account of any act or omission that did not, at the time it took place, constitute such an offence, and no penalty shall be imposed for any criminal offence that is more severe in degree or nature than the most severe penalty that might have been imposed for that offence at the time when it was committed.
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Right to appeal judicial decisions, Prohibition of double jeopardy
No person who shows that he has been tried by a competent court for a criminal offence and either convicted or acquitted shall again be tried for that offence or for any other criminal offence of which he could have been convicted at the trial for that offence, save upon the order of a superior court in the course of appeal proceedings relating to the conviction or acquittal.
- No person shall be tried for a criminal offence if he shows that he has been granted a pardon for that offence.
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Protection from self-incrimination
No person who is tried for a criminal offence shall be compelled to give evidence at the trial.
- Any court or other tribunal prescribed by law for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation shall be established by law and shall be independent and impartial; and where proceedings for such a determination are instituted by any person before such court or other tribunal, the case shall be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
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Right to public trial
Except with the agreement of all the parties thereto, all proceedings of every court and proceedings for the determination of the existence or extent of any civil right or obligation before any other tribunal, including the announcement of the decision of the court or other tribunal, shall be held in public.
- Nothing in subsection (9) shall prevent the court or other tribunal from excluding from the proceedings persons other than the parties thereto and their legal representatives to such extent as the court or other tribunal-
- may by law be empowered so to do and may consider necessary or expedient in circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice or in interlocutory proceedings or in the interests of decency, public morality, the welfare of persons under the age of eighteen years or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings; or
- may by law be empowered or required so to do in the interests of defence, public safety or public order.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of-
- subsection (2)(a) to the extent that the law in question imposes upon any person charged with a criminal offence the burden of proving particular facts ;
- subsection (2) (e) to the extent that the law in question imposes conditions that must be satisfied if witnesses called to testify on behalf of an accused person are to be paid their expenses out of public funds; or
- subsection (5) to the extent that the law in question authorises a court to try a member of a disciplined force for a criminal offence notwithstanding any trial and conviction or acquittal of that member under the disciplinary law of that force, so, however, that any court so trying such a member and convicting him shall, in sentencing him to any punishment, take into account any punishment awarded him under that disciplinary law.
- Nothing contained in subsection (2) (d) shall be construed as entitling a person to legal representation at public expense.
Freedom of religion
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Freedom of opinion/thought/conscience
Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience and for the purpose of this section the said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion, freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and both in public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
- Every religious community shall be entitled, at its own expense, to establish and maintain places of education and to manage any place of education which it wholly maintains.
- No religious community shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for persons of that community in the course of any education provided by that community whether or not that community is in receipt of any government subsidy, grant or other form of financial assistance designed to meet, in whole or in part, the cost of such course of education.
- Except with his own consent (or, if he is a person who has not attained the age of twenty-one years, the consent of his guardian), no person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if that instruction, ceremony or observance relates to a religion which is not his own.
- No person shall be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his religion or belief or to take any oath in a manner which is contrary to his religion or belief.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
- which is reasonably required-
- in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or
- for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons, including the right to observe and practise any religion without the unsolicited intervention of members of any other religion; or
- with respect to standards or qualifications to be required in relation to places of education including any instruction (not being religious instruction) given at such places.
- References in this section to a religion shall be construed as including references to a religious denomination, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.
Right to privacy, Freedom of expression
20
- Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, and for the purposes of this section the said freedom includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his correspondence or other means of communication.
-
Television, Radio, Telecommunications
Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
- that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or
- that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts or regulating the administration or technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting, television or other means of communication or regulating public exhibitions or public entertainments; or
- that imposes restrictions upon public officers or members of a disciplined force.
Right to join trade unions, Right to form political parties, Freedom of association, Freedom of assembly
21
- Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to political parties or to form or belong to trade unions or other associations for the protection of his interests.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
- that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or
- that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons; or
- that imposes restrictions upon public officers or members of a disciplined force.
Freedom of movement
22
- No person shall be deprived of his freedom of movement, that is to say, the right to move freely throughout Barbados, the right to reside in any part of Barbados, the right to enter Barbados, the right to leave Barbados and immunity from expulsion from Barbados.
- Any restriction on a person’s freedom of movement that is involved in his lawful detention shall not be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section.
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision-
- the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Barbados of any person or on any person’s right to leave Barbados that are reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety or public order ;
- for the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Barbados or on the right to leave Barbados of persons generally or any class of persons that are reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health ;
- for the imposition of restrictions on the movement or residence within Barbados of any person who is not a citizen thereof or the exclusion or expulsion from Barbados of any such person;
- for the imposition of restrictions on the acquisition or use of land or other property in Barbados;
-
Extradition procedure
for the imposition of restrictions, by order of a court, on the movement or residence within Barbados of any person or on any person’s right to leave Barbados either in consequence of his having been found guilty of a criminal offence under the law of Barbados or for the purpose of ensuring that he appears before a court at a later date for trial for such a criminal offence or for proceedings preliminary to trial or for proceedings relating to his extradition or lawful removal from Barbados;
- for the imposition of restrictions upon the movement or residence within Barbados or on the right to leave Barbados of public officers or members of a disciplined force ;
- for the removal of persons from Barbados-
- to be tried or punished in some other country for a criminal offence under the law of that country;
- to undergo imprisonment in some other country in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Barbados of which he has been convicted;
- to be detained in an institution in some other country for the purpose of giving effect to the order of a court made in pursuance of a law of Barbados relating to the treatment of offenders under a specified age; or
- to be detained for care or treatment in a hospital or other institution in pursuance of a law of Barbados relating to persons suffering from defect or disease of the mind; or
- for the imposition of restrictions on the right of any person to leave Barbados that are reasonably required in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligations imposed on that person by law.
- Where a person’s freedom of movement is restricted by virtue of such a provision as is referred to in subsection (3) (a), the following provisions shall apply-
- he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case not more than five days after the commencement of the restriction, be furnished with a statement in writing, in a language that he understands, of the grounds upon which the restriction has been imposed;
- not more than fourteen days after the commencement of the restriction, a notification shall be published in the Gazette stating that his freedom of movement has been restricted and giving particulars of the provision of law under which the restriction is authorised;
- he may from time to time request that his case be reviewed under paragraph (d) but, where he has made such a request, no subsequent request shall be made before the expiration of three months from the making of the previous request;
- where a request is made under paragraph (c), the case shall, within one month of the making of the request, be reviewed by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law and presided over by a person appointed by the Chief Justice from among persons entitled to practise in Barbados at attorneys-at-law; and
- he shall be afforded reasonable facilities to consult and instruct, at his own expense, a legal adviser of his own choice, being a person entitled to practise as aforesaid, and he and any such legal adviser shall be permitted to make written or oral representations or both to the tribunal appointed for the review of his case.
- On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of subsection (4) of the case of any person whose freedom of movement has been restricted, the tribunal may make recommendations concerning the necessity or expediency of continuing that restriction to the authority by whom it was ordered, but, unless it is otherwise provided by law, that authority shall not be obliged to act in accordance with any such recommendations.
Equality regardless of political party, Equality regardless of origin, General guarantee of equality, Equality regardless of skin color, Equality regardless of creed or belief, Equality regardless of race
23
- Subject to the provisions of this section—
- no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and
- no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
- In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed, whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
- Subsection (1)(a) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision—
- with respect to persons who are not citizens of Barbados;
- with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
- whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (2) may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable;
- for the transfer between Barbados and other countries, in accordance with international arrangements entered into by Barbados, of persons detained in prisons, hospitals or other institutions by virtue of orders made in the course of the exercise by courts or tribunals of their criminal jurisdiction;
-
Emergency provisions
for authorising the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency; or
- for the imposition of taxation or appropriation of revenue by the Government or by any local government authority for local purposes.
- Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1)(a) to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to race, place of origin, political opinion, colour or creed) to be required of any person who is appointed to any office in the public service, any office in a disciplined force, or any office in the service of a local government authority or of a body corporate established by any law for public purposes.
- Subsection (1)(b) shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorised to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (3) or (4).
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (2) may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 17, 19, 20, 21 and 22, being such a restriction as is authorised by subsection (2) of section 17, subsection (6) of section 19, subsection (2) of section 20, subsection (2) of section 21 or subsection (3) of section 22, as the case may be.
- Subsection (1)(b) shall not affect any discretion relation to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by this Constitution or any other law.
24
-
Ultra-vires administrative actions
Subject to the provisions of subsection (6), if any person alleges that any of the provisions of sections 12 to 23 has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to him (or, in the case of a person who is detained, if any other person alleges such a contravention in relation to the detained person), then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person (or that other person) may apply to the High Court for redress.
- The High Court shall have original jurisdiction–
- to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1); and
- to determine any question arising in the case of any person which is referred to it in pursuance of subsection (3),
and may make such orders, issue such writs and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of enforcing or securing the enforcement of any of the provisions of sections 12 to 23:
Provided that the High Court shall not exercise its powers under this subsection if it is satisfied that adequate means of redress are or have been available to the person concerned under any other law.
- If in any proceedings in any court subordinate to the High Court any question arises as to the contravention of any of the provisions of sections 12 to 23, the person presiding in that court shall refer the question to the High Court unless, in his opinion, the raising of the question is merely frivolous or vexatious.
- Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of subsection (3), the High Court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if that decision is the subject of an appeal under this Constitution to the Court of Appeal or to the Caribbean Court of Justice, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeal or, as the case may be, of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
- Parliament may confer upon the High Court such powers in addition to those conferred by this section as may appear to Parliament to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling the High Court more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this section.
- Parliament may make provision with respect to the practice and procedure–
- of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred upon it by or under this section;
- of the High Court and the Court of Appeal in relation to appeals to the Court of Appeal from decisions of the High Court in the exercise of such jurisdiction;
- of the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice in relation to appeals to the Caribbean Court of Justice from decisions of the Court of Appeal in the exercise of such jurisdiction; and
- of subordinate courts in relation to references to the High Court under subsection (3);
including provision with respect to the time within which any application, reference or appeal shall or may be made or brought; and, subject to any provision so made, provision may be made with respect to the matters aforesaid by rules of court.
- In this section, “the Court of Appeal” has the same meaning as it has in section 87.
Emergency provisions
25
- In this Chapter, “period of public emergency” means any period during which–
- Barbados is engaged in any war; or
- there is in force a proclamation by the Governor-General declaring that a state of public emergency exists; or
- there is in force a resolution of each House supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of that House declaring that democratic institutions in Barbados are threatened by subversion.
- A proclamation made by the Governor-General shall not be effective for the purposes of subsection (1) unless it is declared therein that the Governor-General is satisfied–
- that a public emergency has arisen as a result of the imminence of a state of war between Barbados and another State or as a result of the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, outbreak of pestilence, outbreak of infectious disease or other calamity, whether similar to the foregoing or not; or
- that action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be likely to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community, of supplies or services essential to life.
- A proclamation made by the Governor-General for the purposes of this section shall, unless previously revoked, remain in force for one month or for such longer period, not exceeding six months, as the House of Assembly may determine by a resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of that House:
Provided that any such proclamation may be extended from time to time for a further period not exceeding six months by resolution passed in like manner, and may be revoked at any time by resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of the House of Assembly.
- A resolution passed by a House for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) may be revoked at any time by a resolution of that House supported by the votes of a majority of all the members thereof.
26
- Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any written law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any provision of sections 12 to 23 to the extent that the law in question–
- is a law (in this section referred to as “an existing law”) that was enacted or made before 30th November 1966 and has continued to be part of the law of Barbados at all times since that day;
- repeals and re-enacts an existing law without alteration; or
- alters an existing law and does not thereby render that law inconsistent with any provision of sections 12 to 23 in a manner in which, or to an extent to which, it was not previously so inconsistent.
- In subsection (1)(c), the reference to altering an existing law includes references to repealing it and re-enacting it with modifications or making different provisions in lieu thereof, and to modifying it, and in subsection (1) “written law” includes any instrument having the force of law; and in this subsection and subsection (1) references to the repeal and re-enactment of an existing law shall be construed accordingly.
27
- In this Chapter–
- "contravention", in relation to any requirement, includes a failure to comply with that requirement;
"court" means any court of law having jurisdiction in Barbados, other than a court established by a disciplinary law, and includes the Caribbean Court of Justice and–
- in section 12, section 13, section 14, subsections (2), (3), (5), (8), (9) and (10) of section 18, section 22 and subsection (7) of section 23 includes, in relation to an offence against a disciplinary law, a court established by such a law; and
- in section 13, section 14 and subsection (7) of section 23 includes, in relation to an offence against a disciplinary law, any person or authority empowered to exercise jurisdiction in respect of that offence;
"disciplinary law" means a law regulating the discipline of any disciplined force;
"disciplined force" means–
- a naval, military or air force;
- a police force;
- a prison service; or
- a fire service;
"legal representative", in relation to any court or other tribunal, means a person entitled to practise as an attorney-at-law before such court or tribunal; and
"member", in relation to a disciplined force, includes any person who, under the law regulating the discipline of that force, is subject to that discipline.
- References in sections 12, 13, 17 and 22 to a criminal offence shall be construed as including references to an offence against a disciplinary law, and such references in subsections (2) to (7) and (ll)(a) of section 18 shall, in relation to proceedings before a court established by a disciplinary law, be similarly construed.
- In relation to any person who is a member of a disciplined force raised under the law of any country other than Barbados and lawfully present in Barbados, nothing contained in or done under the authority of the disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of any provision of sections 12 to 23.
CHAPTER VI. EXECUTIVE POWERS
Name/structure of executive(s)
63
- The executive authority of Barbados is vested in Her Majesty.
- Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive authority of Barbados may be exercised on behalf of Her Majesty by the Governor-General either directly or through officers subordinate to him.
- Nothing in this section shall prevent Parliament from conferring functions on persons or authorities other than the Governor-General.
Establishment of cabinet/ministers
64
-
Name/structure of executive(s)
There shall be a Cabinet for Barbados which shall consist of the Prime Minister and not less than five other Ministers appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 65.
-
Powers of cabinet
The Cabinet shall be the principal instrument of policy and shall be charged with the general direction and control of the government of Barbados and shall be collectively responsible therefor to Parliament.
65
-
Head of government's role in the legislature, Minimum age of head of government, Head of government selection, Eligibility for head of government
Whenever the Governor-General has occasion to appoint a Prime Minister he shall, acting in his discretion, appoint the member of the House of Assembly who, in his judgment, is best able to command the confidence of a majority of the members of that House.
-
Eligibility for cabinet, Cabinet selection
The other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, from among the members of the two Houses.
- Subsections (1) and (2) shall have effect in relation to any period between a dissolution of Parliament and the day on which the next election of members of the House of Assembly is held as if Parliament had not been dissolved.
- Appointments under this section shall be made by instrument under the Public Seal.
Head of government removal
66
-
Head of government's role in the legislature
The office of Prime Minister shall become vacant-
- if he ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament;
- when, after an election of members of the House of Assembly following any dissolution of Parliament and before that House first meets thereafter, the Prime Minister is informed by the Governor-General, acting in his discretion, that the Governor-General is about to re-appoint him as Prime Minister or appoint another person as Prime Minister; or
- if the Governor-General revokes his appointment in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2).
-
Dismissal of the legislature
If the House of Assembly by a resolution which has received the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members thereof resolves that the appointment of the Prime Minister ought to be revoked and the Prime Minister does not within three days of the passing of the resolution either resign or advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament, the Governor-General shall, by instrument under the Public Seal, revoke the appointment of the Prime Minister.
- The office of a Minister, other than the office of Prime Minister, shall become vacant-
- upon the appointment or re-appointment of any person to the office of Prime Minister;
-
Cabinet removal
if his appointment to his office is revoked by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, by instrument under the Public Seal;
- if, for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament, he ceases to be a member of the House of which he was a member at the date of his appointment as a Minister; or
- if he is not a member of either House at the date of the first sitting of Parliament after a dissolution of Parliament.
67
- Whenever the Prime Minister is unable, by reason of his illness or absence from Barbados, to perform the functions of his office, the Governor-General may, by instrument under the Public Seal, authorise any other Minister who is a member of the House of Assembly to perform the functions conferred on the Prime Minister by this Constitution (other than the functions conferred by subsection (3) ) .
- The Governor-General may, by instrument under the Public Seal, revoke any authority given under this section.
- The powers conferred on the Governor-General by this section shall be exercised by him acting in his discretion if in his opinion it is impracticable to obtain the advice of the Prime Minister owing to the Prime Minister’s illness or absence, and in any other case shall be exercised by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.
68
- Whenever a Minister other than the Prime Minister is unable, by reason of his illness or absence from Barbados, to perform the functions of his office, the Governor-General may, by instrument under the Public Seal, appoint a member of the Senate or the House of Assembly to be a temporary Minister and authorise him to perform the functions of that office:
Provided that this subsection shall have effect in relation to any period between a dissolution of Parliament and the day on which the next election of members of the House of Assembly is held as if Parliament had not been dissolved.
- Subject to the provisions of section 66(3), a temporary Minister shall hold office until he is notified by the Governor-General, by instrument under the Public Seal, that the Minister on account of whose inability to perform the functions of his office he was appointed is again able to perform those functions or until that Minister vacates his office.
- The powers conferred on the Governor-General by this section shall be exercised by him in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.
- The Prime Minister and every other Minister shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take before the Governor-General the oath of allegiance and an oath for the due execution of his office in the form set out in the First Schedule.
- The Prime Minister shall, so far as is practicable, attend and preside at all meetings of the Cabinet and in his absence such other Minister shall preside as the Prime Minister shall appoint.
- The Prime Minister shall keep the Governor-General fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government of Barbados and shall furnish the Governor-General with such information as the Governor-General, acting in his discretion, may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the government of Barbados.
Head of state powers
72
-
Attorney general
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may, by directions in writing, assign to the Prime Minister or any other Minister responsibility for any business of the Government, including the administration of any department of the Government:
Provided that one such other Minister (who shall be styled Attorney-General) shall be assigned the functions of principal legal adviser to the Government.
- Nothing in this section shall empower the Governor-General to confer on any Minister authority to exercise any power or to discharge any duty that is conferred or imposed by this Constitution or any other law on the Governor-General or any person or authority other than that Minister.
Head of state powers
73
- The Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may, by instrument under the Public Seal, appoint from among the members of the two Houses Parliamentary Secretaries to assist Ministers in the discharge of their functions :
Provided that this subsection shall have effect in relation to any period between a dissolution of Parliament and the day on which the next election of members of the House of Assembly is held as if Parliament had not been dissolved.
- The provisions of section 66(3) and section 69 shall apply to Parliamentary Secretaries as they apply to Ministers.
Head of state powers
74
- There shall be a Leader of the Opposition, who shall be appointed by the Governor-General by instrument under the Public Seal.
- Whenever the Governor-General has occasion to appoint a Leader of the Opposition he shall appoint the member of the House of Assembly who, in his judgment, is best able to command the support of a majority of those members who do not support the Government, or if there is no such person, the member of that House who, in his judgment, commands the support of the largest single group of such members who are prepared to support one leader:
Provided that this subsection shall have effect in relation to any period between a dissolution of Parliament and the day on which the next election of members of the House of Assembly is held as if Parliament had not been dissolved.
- The office of Leader of the Opposition shall become vacant-
- if, after an election of members of the House of Assembly following any dissolution of Parliament and before that House first meets thereafter, he is informed by the Governor-General that the Governor-General is about to appoint another person as Leader of the Opposition;
- if he ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament; or
- if his appointment is revoked under the provisions of subsection (4).
- If, in the judgment of the Governor-General, the Leader of the Opposition no longer is able to command the support of a majority of those members of the House of Assembly who do not support the Government, or, as the case may be, the support of the largest single group of such members who are prepared to support one leader, the Governor-General may revoke the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition.
- In the exercise of his functions under this section the Governor-General shall act in his discretion:
Provided that, except during any period such as is mentioned in subsection (3) (a), if the Governor-General considers that it is doubtful whether a person commands such support as is mentioned in subsection (2) he shall, in determining the question, act in accordance with the advice of the Speaker.
- During any period in which there is a vacancy in the office of Leader of the Opposition by reason of the fact that no person is both qualified in accordance with this Constitution for, and willing to accept, appointment to that office, the Governor-General shall-
- act in his discretion in the exercise of any function in respect of which it is provided in this Constitution that the Governor-General shall act in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and
- act on the recommendation of the Prime Minister in the exercise of any function in respect of which it is provided in this Constitution that the Governor-General shall act on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.
Advisory bodies to the head of state
76
- There shall be a Privy Council for Barbados which shall consist of such persons as the Governor-General, after consultation with the Prime Minister, may appoint by instrument under the Public Seal.
- The Privy Council shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed upon it by this Constitution or any other law.
- The office of a member of the Privy Council appointed under this section shall become vacant
- at the expiration of fifteen years from the date of his appointment or such shorter period as may be specified in the instrument by which he was appointed;
- when he attains the age of seventy-five; or
- if his appointment is revoked by the Governor-General, acting after consultation with the Prime Minister, by instrument under the Public Seal.
Advisory bodies to the head of state
77
- The Privy Council shall not be summoned except by the authority of the Governor-General acting in his discretion.
- The Governor-General shall, so far as is practicable, attend and preside at all meetings of the Privy Council.
- Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Privy Council may regulate its own procedure.
- The question whether the Privy Council has validly performed any function vested in it by this Constitution shall not be inquired into any court.
Advisory bodies to the head of state
78
-
Power to pardon
The Governor-General may, in Her Majesty's name and on Her Majesty's behalf—
- grant to any person convicted of any offence against the law of Barbados a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions;
- grant to any person a respite, either indefinite or for a specified period, from the execution of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence;
- substitute a less severe form of punishment for that imposed on any person for such an offence; or
- remit the whole or part of any punishment imposed on any person for such an offence or any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the Crown on account of such an offence.
- The Governor-General shall, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) or of any power conferred on him by any other law to remit any penalty or forfeiture due to any person other than the Crown, act in accordance with the advice of the Privy Council.
- Where any person has been sentenced to death for an offence against the law of Barbados, the Governor-General shall cause a written report of the case from the trial judge, together with such other information derived from the record of the case or elsewhere as the Governor-General may require, to be forwarded to the Privy Council so that the Privy Council may advise him on the exercise of the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) in relation to that person.
- The power of requiring information conferred upon the Governor-General by subsection (3) shall be exercised by him on the recommendation of the Privy Council or, in any case in which in his judgment the matter is too urgent to admit of such recommendation being obtained by the time within which it may be necessary for him to act, in his discretion.
- A person has a right to submit directly or through a legal or other representative written representation in relation to the exercise by the Governor-General or the Privy Council of any of their respective functions under this section, but is not entitled to an oral hearing.
- The Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Privy Council, may by instrument under the Public Seal direct that there shall be time-limits within which persons referred to in subsection (1) may appeal to, or consult, any person or body of persons (other than Her Majesty in Council) outside Barbados in relation to the offence in question; and, where a time-limit that applies in the case of a person by reason of such a direction has expired, the Governor-General and the Privy Council may exercise their respective functions under this section in relation to that person, notwithstanding that such an appeal or consultation as aforesaid relating to that person has not been concluded.
- Nothing contained in subsection (6) shall be construed as being inconsistent with the right referred to in paragraph (c) of section 11.
Attorney general
79
- There shall be a Director of Public Prosecutions whose office shall be a public office.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions shall, subject to section 79A, have power in any case in which he considers it desirable so to do—
- to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court other than a court-martial in respect of any offence against the law of Barbados;
- to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person or authority; and
- to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by himself or any other person or authority.
- The powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions under subsection (2) may be exercised by him in person or through other persons acting under and in accordance with his general or special instructions.
- Subject to section 79A, the powers conferred upon the Director of Public Prosecutions by paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) shall be vested in him to the exclusion of any other person or authority:
Provided that, where any other person or authority has instituted criminal proceedings, nothing in this subsection shall prevent the withdrawal of those proceedings by or at the instance of that person or authority and with the leave of the court.
- Subject to section 79A, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by this section the Director of Public Prosecutions shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.
- For the purposes of this section, any appeal from any determination in any criminal proceedings before any court, or any case stated or question of law reserved for the purposes of any such proceedings, to any other court or to the Caribbean Court of Justice shall be deemed to be part of those proceedings.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions shall not enter upon the duties of his office until he has taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and an oath for the due execution of his office in the form set out in the First Schedule.
Attorney general
79A
- The Attorney-General may, in the case of any offence to which this section applies, give general or special directions to the Director of Public Prosecutions as to the exercise of the powers conferred upon the Director of Public Prosecutions by section 79, and the Director of Public Prosecutions shall act in accordance with those directions.
- This section applies to –
- offences under the laws of Barbados relating to –
- piracy,
- trading or otherwise dealing in slaves,
- foreign enlistment,
- publications calculated to interfere with the peaceful relations of Barbados with foreign states,
- high treason, treason, misprision of treason or treachery,
- sedition or seditious meetings,
- official secrets,
- mutiny or incitement to mutiny,
- unlawful oaths; and
-
International law
any offence under an enactment relating to any right or obligation of Barbados under international law.
God or other deities
FIRST SCHEDULE
I, , do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God.
Oath for the due execution of the office of Governor-General.
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of Governor-General. So help me God.
Oath for the due execution of the office of Prime Minister or other Minister or Parliamentary Secretary.
I, , being appointed Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary, do swear that I will to the best of my judgment, at all times when so required, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor-General (or any other person for the time being lawfully performing the functions of that office) for the good management of the public affairs of Barbados, and I do further swear that I will not on any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose the counsel, advice, opinion or vote of any particular Minister or Parliamentary Secretary and that I will not, except with the authority of the Cabinet and to such extent as may be required for the good management of the affairs of Barbados, directly or indirectly reveal the business or proceedings of the Cabinet or the nature or contents of any documents communicated to me as Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary or any matter coming to my knowledge in my capacity as such, and that in all things I will be a true and faithful Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary. So help me God.
Oath for the due execution of the office of Director of Public Prosecutions.
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of Director of Public Prosecutions. So help me God.
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of the Chief Justice/Justice of Appeal/Judge of the High Court and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of Barbados without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God.
Judicial Oath for Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice
I, , do hereby swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will faithfully exercise the office of President/Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will and in accordance with the Code of Judicial Conduct. (So help me God (to be omitted in affirmation)).