Freundel Stuart

Freundel Jerome Stuart, OR, PC, SC (born 27 April 1951) is a Barbadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Barbados and the leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) from 2010 to 2018. He succeeded David Thompson, who died in office from pancreatic cancer.

Personal life and education Stuart was born in Saint Philip, Barbados. He is the father of one daughter.

An alumnus of the Christ Church Foundation School, Stuart is a graduate of the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill and holds degrees in Political Science and Law.

Stuart was elected as 1st vice-president of the DLP and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in 1995. He served in that position until 2004.

Stuart was also appointed in 1995 as shadow deputy prime minister, shadow attorney general and shadow interior minister to serve in the Shadow Cabinet of David Thompson. He held those three positions until 20 January 2008.

In 2004, Stuart was elected as the leader and president of the DLP in a leadership election. Stuart narrowly defeated then DLP Leader Clyde Mascoll but remained as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, while Thompson remained as Opposition Leader.

After the Democratic Labour Party won the 2008 Barbadian general election, Stuart was appointed deputy prime minister, Attorney-General of Barbados and minister of home affairs by Prime Minister David Thompson to serve in his cabinet. Stuart served in those three positions until May 2010.

Prime Minister of Barbados Stuart served as acting prime minister of Barbados from May 2010 when Prime Minister David Thompson became ill with pancreatic cancer. Thompson died on 23 October 2010.

On 24 January 2014 Stuart became a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Stuart had announced changes for Barbados including his intention to turn Barbados into a republic and replace the Queen of Barbados with a ceremonial president as head of state. Ahead of the 2018 General Election Stuart stated if re-elected he would push for removal of Barbados from jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The DLP lost all of its seats in the May 2018 election to the Barbados Labour Party of Mia Mottley. It was the worst defeat of a sitting government in Barbadian history. Stuart himself was roundly defeated in his own seat, taking only 26.7 percent of the vote.

On 1 August 2018, Stuart stepped down as DLP leader and President, and a leadership election was held to fill the position where the Candidate for Christ Church South Verla De Peiza won unopposed in the election. Verla De Peiza succeeded Stuart on the following day.