The constitution and laws of Barbados
Prorogation and dissolution of Parliament
61. 1. The Governor General acting in accordance with the advice of the
Prime Minister, may at any time by proclamation prorogue Parliament.
2. The Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime
Minister, may at any time by proclamation dissolve Parliament:
Provided that if the office of Prime Minister is vacant and the Governor
General considers that there is no prospect of his being able within a
reasonable time to appoint to that office a person who can command the
confidence of a majority of the members of the House of Assembly, he shall
dissolve Parliament.
3. Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), Parliament, unless sooner
dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting
after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved.
4. At any time when Barbados is at war, Parliament may extend the period of
five years specified in subsection 83) for not more than twelve months at a
time:
Provided that the life of Parliament shall not be extended under this
subsection for more than two years.
5. If, between a dissolution of Parliament and the next ensuing general
election of members to the House of Assembly, an emergency arises of such a
nature that, in the opinion of the Prime Minister, it is necessary for the two
Houses or either of them to be summoned before that general election can be
held, the Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime
Minister, may summon the two Houses of the preceding Parliament, and that
Parliament shall thereupon be deemed (except for the purposes of section 62)
not to have been dissolved but shall be deemed (except as aforesaid) to be
dissolved on the date on which the polls are held in the next ensuing general
election.
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