24 Facts About Freundel Stuart

Freundel Stuart succeeded David Thompson, who had died in office on 23 October 2010 from pancreatic cancer.

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.

Freundel Stuart is a lawyer and his practice encompasses criminal and corporate law.

In 1974, Freundel Stuart officially joined the Ministry of Education and became a Teacher in Princess margaret secondary.

Freundel Stuart has supported several community organisations and sponsors the Dayrells United Achievers Community Club and the Notre Dame Sports Club.

Freundel Stuart entered the Democratic Labour Party in 1970 and served in the Senate of Barbados until 1994.

Freundel Stuart entered elective politics in 1994 and became a Member of parliament for St Philip South until he was defeated by Barbados Labour Party representative Anthony Wood in the 1999 Barbadian general election.

In 2003, Freundel Stuart switched Constituencies to St Michael South but remained as a member of the Democratic Labour Party, he was defeated by Minister for Tourism and Transport Noel Lynch in the 2003 Barbadian general election.

Freundel Stuart contested in St Michael South again in the 2008 Barbadian general election and defeated Noel Lynch this time.

Freundel Stuart was elected as 1st vice-president of the DLP and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in 1995.

Freundel Stuart was appointed in 1995 as shadow deputy prime minister, shadow attorney general and shadow interior minister to serve in the Shadow Cabinet of David Thompson.

Freundel Stuart held those three positions until 20 January 2008.

In 2004, Freundel Stuart was elected as the leader and president of the DLP in a leadership election.

Freundel Stuart narrowly defeated then DLP Leader Clyde Mascoll but remained as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, while Thompson remained as Opposition Leader.

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

Leaders of the Democratic Labour Party held an emergency meeting at the party's headquarters in George Street in Bridgetown on the morning of Thompson's death, during which Freundel Stuart was chosen as the next prime minister.

Freundel Stuart was sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister of Barbados and Minister for National Security, the public service and Urban Development the same day by Governor-General Clifford Husbands.

In 2011, Freundel Stuart was appointed a member of the UN Global Panel on Sustainability.

Freundel Stuart won his first election as prime minister on 21 February 2013, defeating Barbados Labour Party challenger Noel Lynch.

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

Freundel 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 Freundel Stuart stated if re-elected he would push for removal of Barbados from jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Freundel Stuart himself was roundly defeated in his own seat, taking only 26.7 percent of the vote.

On 1 August 2018, Freundel 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.