How are the leaders of Barbados selected?

Answer 1

The United States system of Government does not provide for a Parliamentary 'Opposition', therefore there is no 'opposition leader' in the Virgin Islands Legislature. Rather, elected Senators, through internal negotiations, form alliances. An alliance that achieves 8 members (a majority of the 15 elected senators) forms the majority caucus which then leads and determines the rules and business of the Legislature. The remaining seven senators sometimes form an organized minority caucus complete with minority leader. The formation of a minority coalition is not required, nor are Senators that have been excluded from the majority caucus required to join the minority caucus.

There are currently three active registered political parties in the Virgin Islands: Democratic, Republican and the Independent Citizens Movement (ICM) Parties. It is rare that any one party can achieve a controlling majority. Typically, Majority Caucuses in the Virgin Islands have been bi-partisan (quadri-partisan?). It is not unusual to find a Majority made up of Democrats, Republicans, ICMers and Independents. In fact, in V.I. politics, Independent candidates tends to be elected at the same rate as party-affiliated candidates.

Thus, Majority Caucuses can be tenuous and at times have broken up and been reorganized with new members and leaders during legislative sessions.

(NOTE) The Virgin Islands Legislature operates year round on a two-year session cycle. A Senate President may adjourn session Sine die, at which time a legislative session may only be reconvened by Special Session request of the governor and only to handle the business of the request.)

Answer 2

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