Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has offered her strongest indication yet that the country could head to the polls in early 2026, well ahead of the constitutionally due election date in 2027.
Addressing a cocktail reception at her official residence, Ilaro Court, on Thursday night, Mottley urged supporters of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to prepare for sustained political activity next year, fueling speculation that a general election could be called a year early.
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“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,” Mottley told the gathering. “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.”
She encouraged party supporters to rest over the Christmas period but made it clear that she expects full readiness when called upon.
“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,” she said, drawing loud applause. “I want you to tell me only, ‘Prime Minister, we are ready. We are red and ready.’”
The prime minister also highlighted Barbados’ recent economic performance as evidence of national progress, while acknowledging that challenges remain.
“We have come from the economic doldrums,” she said. “We have now had 17 consecutive quarters of growth, the lowest unemployment in the history of our nation, and foreign reserves that are higher than they have ever been.”
If elections are held next year, it would mark the second consecutive time Mottley has dissolved Parliament with a year remaining in her term. She previously led the BLP to historic 30 nil landslide victories in both the 2018 and 2022 general elections.
Political scientist Peter Wickham recently told Barbados TODAY that an election in 2026 was highly likely, citing Mottley’s established pattern of calling early polls.
The BLP has already begun preparing for the next election cycle, recently nominating candidates for the St Thomas and St Joseph constituencies to replace long serving Members of Parliament who have indicated they will not contest the upcoming general election.
