[2] Prior to that date, the head of state was Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, who was represented on the island by a governor-general.

[7] On 2 December 2007, reports emerged that this vote was put off due to concerns raised by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

On 22 March 2015, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced his intention to move the country towards a republican form of government "in the very near future".

[9] The general secretary of the Democratic Labour Party, George Pilgrim, confirmed the move and said that it is expected to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Barbadian independence in 2016.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley described the move as "having the confidence that we can be responsible for our affairs, in every respect";[15] though, the country had already been fully sovereign since 1966.

A two-thirds majority of valid votes in each house separately is then required to elect a candidate on all rounds of balloting.

To gain ballot access in such an open election, a candidate must be nominated either by the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, or at least ten members of the House of Assembly.

Barbados' constitution gives the country a Westminster parliamentary system of government based on that of the United Kingdom, wherein the role of the head of state is both legal and practical.

Under the amended Constitution, the president is bound, with few exceptions, to exercise this power on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet.

Hence, in normal practice, as is the case with heads of state in other Westminster systems, executive authority is exercised by the prime minister and their cabinet, on behalf of the president.

However, in a scenario when no party or coalition holds a majority (referred to as a minority government situation), the president's judgement about the most suitable candidate for prime minister is brought into play.

[27] However, the president has the absolute power to withhold assent to Bills passed by Parliament (i.e. to veto without parliamentary override).

The president has the right to appoint judges on the joint recommendation of the prime minister and leader of the opposition,[30] and pardon offenders.