Barbados to elect new government on February 21

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbadians go to the polls on February 21 to elect a new government ended months of speculation as to when Prime Minister Freundel Stuart would seek a new five year term in office. A Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) statement said that Stuart, who took over the leadership of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) after the death of prime minister David Thompson in October 2010, had met with Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave on Tuesday to advise of the date. BGIS said that the head of state has since issued the writ for a general election and dissolved Parliament, which earlier on Tuesday adjourned its last session until February 5.