New coalition pushes for reform, fairer representation, voter re-engagement

With less than a month remaining before Barbadians head to the polls, three fledgling political parties joined forces on Monday to form a new coalition to offer voters an alternative to Barbados’ two dominant political parties.

The United Progressive Party (UPP), the New National Party (NNP) and the Conservative Barbados Leadership Party (CBLP) have come together under the banner of the People’s Coalition for Progress (PCP).

At a press conference at Westburn Plaza in Bridgetown to announce their formation, UPP leader Lynette Eastmond chided Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s announcement on Saturday night that a general election will be held in less than a month, arguing that the timing disadvantages voters rather than political parties.

Eastmond said: “. ..You just call a snap election. Whoever ready, ready. We ready because we knew when it was going to be called. Let the others do whatever they please. That’s not fair. I’m not saying it isn’t fair to the parties, you know? I’m saying it’s not fair to the people of Barbados who should have a clear opportunity to determine who they would vote for, not vote for the loudest or stay home, because you realise that many Barbadians aren’t bothering to go out to vote.”

Eastmond pointed to voter apathy in The City constituency as an example of what she described as long-standing neglect.

“We don’t treat the people as though they live in the capital of Barbados. So they don’t go to vote, and many Barbadians have stopped voting. I’m here to ask them to come back out to vote, which is markedly different; do not stay at home.”

She stressed the importance of moving away from a two-party system, noting that several countries with multi-party parliaments rank highly on the Human Development Index.

“In Hong Kong, in some of these countries, they have over 12 parties represented in Parliament, and they also have coalitions in Parliament. When is Barbados going to move towards that, or are we suffering from arrested development?”

Eastmond also called for electoral reform, criticising the first-past-the-post system and advocating proportional representation.

“First past the post is an old-fashioned system of determining how people vote. It’s all ridiculous. So only 73 per cent of the population voted for the Barbados Labour Party but they took up all the seats. That’s not right. When we are given the opportunity to represent the people of Barbados, we will change that, because that needs to be changed.”

She further argued for fixed election dates and reiterated her call for broader political representation in Parliament, while raising concerns about governance, transparency and corruption.

Eastmond also warned of the social impact if government proceeds with plans to sell the Transport Board, describing the strain placed on working families by poor public transport.

“You have a government which has given up its responsibility for public transportation in Barbados…. Do you understand that when a mother leaves home at five o’clock to get to work and cannot get back home until eight o’clock because of the poor bus service in Barbados, that she cannot look after her children as she should, and the same thing applies to men. What’s going to happen? There is chaos already.”

She also questioned the size of Parliament, arguing that it is disproportionate to Barbados’s population.

“We don’t need 30 seats. No, it’s too big, not for a country with 300 000 people. It’s a joke. It’s too big and it’s too costly… It is totally unnecessary. It’s another burden on Barbadians.”

NNP leader Kemar Stuart echoed concerns about the size of government, saying both Parliament and Cabinet should be reduced: “We don’t think we need 30 seats, and we don’t need 22 ministers.”

Stuart also raised alarm over the voters’ list, sharing a personal experience he said highlights serious deficiencies.

He claimed: “This is my third general election in Barbados, and as of January 19, 2026, Kemar Stuart is not a registered voter in Barbados… so a candidate in the election, and I can’t even vote. So that’s something to think about, because if it is me, think about the others.”

Turning to economic issues, Stuart warned that United States policy decisions could soon trigger an oil supply crisis for Barbados, with far-reaching economic consequences.

“Barbados has to choose the right road that it wants to walk geopolitically, because if you choose the wrong road, we will have serious economic quagmires happening in Barbados… Where will Barbados be getting its oil from, and the price that Barbados will be paying for that oil?”

He also suggested that another round of International Monetary Fund financing could follow the election.

“The Barbados Labour Party is more than likely seeking another round of IMF financing… because the government fell down and they failed on many of the policies of work.”

CBLP leader Corey Beckles said the coalition is offering what he described as renewed leadership and energy, arguing that Parliament needs new voices.

“We need fresh voices in Parliament… after many, many years of promises, after promises not being kept …  sometimes our motivation starts to wane,” said Beckles. “But you see us, we got the early tiger… the strong foundation, the strong motivation that will take this country into a new level of governance.”

Candidates will contest the election individually, as with other political parties, with elected members determining who would become prime minister, the PCP said.

While the full slate of candidates has not yet been finalised, the coalition said a complete list will be made public soon.