1. Joseph Junior Sylvester Atherley was born on 26 February 1954 and is a Barbadian religious minister and politician who served as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly of Barbados from 2018 to 2022, and as leader of the People's Party for Democracy and Development since 8 June 2019.
Joseph Atherley was previously an MP for the BLP from 16 February 1999 to 12 February 2008, where he was the first Christian clergyman to be elected to the House of Assembly since independence.
Joseph Atherley later studied at the Christian Union Church of the West Indies Bible College, Chapel Christian University, the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, and the Haggai Institute of Leadership Training in Singapore.
Joseph Atherley serves as Senior Minister of the Better Life Assembly and is a member of the Evangelical Holiness Christian Community.
Joseph Atherley is the Barbados regional head of the Christian Union Church of the West Indies.
Joseph Atherley was elected from the Saint Michael West constituency, defeating Branford Taitt of the Democratic Labour Party.
Joseph Atherley was the first Christian minister to be elected to Parliament.
Joseph Atherley was re-elected in 2003 by a slightly smaller margin against the DLP's Michael A Carrington.
Joseph Atherley served as First Vice Chairman of the BLP from 2004 to 2005.
Joseph Atherley sought to retain his seat in the 2008 election, but was defeated this time by Carrington.
Joseph Atherley returned as a BLP candidate in 2013, but lost to Carrington.
On 8 June 2019, Joseph Atherley announced the formation of the People's Party for Democracy and Development as the new main opposition party under his leadership.
Joseph Atherley's appointed senators Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn were members as well.
Joseph Atherley did not stand for re-election to his parliamentary seat of St Michael West in the snap election called in 2022, and his seat was won back by the Barbados Labour Party.