Chapter 6 of the Barbados Constitution

63.1
The executive authority of Barbados is vested in Her Majesty.

63.2
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.

63.1
Nothing in this section shall prevent Parliament from conferring functions on persons or authorities other than the Governor General.

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Cabinet

64.1
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.

64.2
The Cabinet shall be the principal instrument of policy and shall be charged with the general direction and control for the government of Barbados and shall be collectively responsible therefore to Parliament.

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Appointment of Ministers

65.1
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.

65.2
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.

65.3
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.

65.4
Appointments under this section shall be made by instrument under the Public Seal.

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Tenure of office of Ministers

66.1
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).

66.2
If the House of Assembly 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.

66.3
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;
if this 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.

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Performance of Prime Minister's functions in certain events

67.1
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, authorize 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)).

67.2
The Governor General may, by instrument under the Public Seal, revoke any authority given under this section.

67.3
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.

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Temporary Ministers

68.1
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 authorize 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.

68.2
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.

68.3
The powers conferred on the Governor General by this section shall be exercised by him in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.

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Oaths to be taken by Ministers

69.
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.

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Presiding in Cabinet

70.
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.

Governor General to be informed concerning matters of government

71.
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.

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