| The constitution and laws of Barbados
Tenure of seats of Senators
39. 1. The seat of a Senator shall become vacant -
a. upon the next dissolution of Parliament after he has been appointed;
b. if, with his consent, he is nominated as a candidate for election to the
House of Assembly;
c. if he is absent from Barbados for a period exceeding forty days at any time
when the Senate is sitting, without the leave of the President given in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (2);
d. if he ceases to be a Commonwealth citizen;
e. subject to the provision of subsection (3), if any circumstances arise that,
if he were not a Senator, would cause him to be disqualified for appointment as
such by virtue of paragraphs (b) to (g) of section 38(1) or of any law enacted
in pursuance of section 38(2);
f. in the case of a Senator who was appointed as such in accordance with the
advice of the Prime Minister or in accordance with the advice of the Leader of
the Opposition, if the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice
of the Prime Minister or in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the
Opposition, as the case may be, by instrument under the Public Seal, declares
the seat of that Senator to be vacant.
2. The President of the Senate may grant leave to any Senator to be absent from
Barbados for any period not exceeding six months at any one time.
3. a. If the circumstances such as are referred to in subsection (1)(e) arise
because a Senator is under sentence of death or imprisonment, adjudged to be of
unsound mind, declared bankrupt or convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or
illegal practice at elections and if it is open to the Senator to appeal
against the decision (either with the leave of a court or other authority or
without such leave), he shall forthwith cease to perform his functions as a
Senator but, subject to paragraph (b), he shall not vacate his seat until the
expiration of a period of thirty days thereafter:
Provided that the President of the Senate may, at the request of the said
Senator, from time to time extend that period for further periods of thirty
days to enable the Senator to pursue an appeal against the decision, so,
however, that extensions of time exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and
fifty days shall not be given without the approval, signified by resolution, of
the Senate.
b. If, on the determination of any appeal, such circumstances continue to exist
and no further appeal is open to the Senator, or if, by reason of the
expiration of any period for entering an appeal or notice thereof or the
refusal of leave to appeal or for any other reason, it ceases to be open to the
Senator to appeal, he shall forthwith vacate his seat.
c. If at any time before the Senator vacates his seat such circumstances as
aforesaid cease to exist, his seat shall not become vacant on the expiration of
the period referred to in paragraph (a) and he may resume the performance of
his functions as a Senator.
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