The Privy Council of Barbados is a formal body of advisors to the head of state (the sovereign represented viceregally by the Governor-General of Barbados) prior to 30 November 2021 and the President of Barbados as of 30 November 2021) and is provided for in the 1966 Constitution of Barbados, which reads:
Since 30 November 2021, references to the Governor-General of Barbados has been replaced with references to the President of Barbados.
The Privy Council is appointed by the Governor-General after consultation with the Prime Minister. It consists of 12 members, with the President as chairman. It advises the Governor-General in the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy and in the exercise of his disciplinary powers over members of the public and police services.[2]
The early Barbadian Legislature was composed of a Governor (who was at times also Governor-in-chief of other British West Indies colonial islands including the Windward islands) has an Executive Council consisting of the Governor, Major-General, Colonial Secretary, and Attorney-General, a Legislative Council in which the senior officer commanding the troops, the Colonial Secretary, and the Attorney-General sit ex officio, and a House of Assembly of twenty-four members, elected annually by franchise.[3] The first Governor of Barbados was Henry Powell from 17 February 1627.
The first Council was formed in 1657 under King Charles II and managed by his Governor and the first Privy Council head was Sir Peter Colleton (1673–1674, acting).[4] The first Member of Her Majesty's Council of Barbados in 1657 was William Sharpe.
In 1965 it was recorded that "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".[5]
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: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2024 (link)