By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Barbadians will head to the polls on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, after Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley formally announced the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of an early general election, nearly a year ahead of the constitutional deadline.
The announcement was made on Saturday during a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) nomination meeting at Westbury Primary School, where attorney-at-law Michael Lashley, KC, was confirmed as the party’s candidate for the City constituency. With that nomination, the governing BLP has completed its slate of candidates for all 30 seats in the House of Assembly.
Parliament is scheduled to be dissolved on January 19, triggering the official election period. Nomination Day has been set for January 27.
The decision to call an early election follows months of political speculation after Prime Minister Mottley hinted late last year that the country could see polls before the end of the current parliamentary term. At the time, she urged party supporters to prepare for political mobilisation in 2026, signalling that the government would not wait until the final year of its mandate.
The upcoming vote will mark the second consecutive time Prime Minister Mottley has dissolved Parliament with a year remaining in her term. She previously led the Barbados Labour Party to historic 30–0 landslide victories in both the 2018 and 2022 general elections, leaving the opposition without parliamentary representation.
With the election date now set, political activity across the island is expected to intensify as parties begin making their case to voters ahead of the February 11 poll.
Trinidad PM Defends Support for United States in Crime Fight
In Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has reaffirmed her government’s support for the United States in its fight against transnational organised crime, saying she makes no apologies for the position taken by her administration.
Speaking during a sitting of Parliament at the Red House over the weekend, the Prime Minister defended recent comments by Attorney General John Jeremie, who stated that United States military strikes against drug trafficking vessels were consistent with international law.
As she outlined the government’s legislative agenda, Persad-Bissessar stressed that her administration remains committed to combating trafficking and organised crime, stating that Trinidad and Tobago would continue to work alongside its longstanding international partners.
She also dismissed criticism from the Opposition, urging them to seek competent legal advice, while noting that her government has obtained legal opinions supporting its stance on the matter.
Chile Declares State of Catastrophe as Wildfires Spread
Meanwhile, in South America, Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions of the country as wildfires continue to spread, forcing mass evacuations and causing widespread destruction.
According to Chile’s National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), firefighters were battling at least 24 active fires across the country as of Sunday morning. The blazes have already consumed nearly 8,500 hectares of land, threatening several communities.
Authorities confirmed that nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas, while at least 250 homes have been destroyed. Emergency evacuation orders remain in effect as firefighters struggle to contain the fires.
Officials say extreme heat, strong winds, and dry conditions have accelerated the spread of the wildfires and hampered containment efforts. Large parts of Chile are currently under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 38 degrees Celsius.
Chile and neighbouring Argentina have both experienced intense heat waves since the beginning of the year, raising concerns about prolonged wildfire risks across the region.
