The Bajan Bugle — Little England, big opinions, and zero patience for spin.

THE THIRD 30-0: HISTORIC, AND SLIGHTLY CONCERNING

Mia Mottley’s BLP has won a third consecutive 30-0 clean sweep of Barbados’s 30 parliamentary seats, making her the first Caribbean leader to achieve three successive clean sweeps and, as of 2026, the longest-serving sitting female head of state or government in the world. These are real achievements and the Bajan Bugle acknowledges them without reservation.

What the Bugle also notes, without apology, is that voter turnout hit a historic low of 42 per cent. Forty-two per cent. In an election that produced a historic result for one party, fewer than half of registered voters actually participated. Political scientist Peter Wickham and others have pointed to the apparent assumption that the outcome was foregone — and when the outcome is assumed, motivation to vote collapses. The DLP lost its leader’s seat. The opposition is, at this point, technically present in the country but not in Parliament. Whether a democracy functions optimally when one party holds every seat and barely half the electorate shows up is a question the Bajan Bugle puts on the table and leaves there.

KENSINGTON OVAL DROPPED FROM 2026 CRICKET SCHEDULE

Cricket West Indies has confirmed that the legendary Kensington Oval in Barbados will not host any Tests, ODIs, or T20Is in 2026. The home series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Pakistan will be hosted by Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad, and Guyana. PM Mottley responded with considerable displeasure, signalling that Barbados can no longer rely solely on CWI for cricket development. CWI President Shallow suggested that Barbados could have footed the bill. The Bajan Bugle notes that “foot the bill to host your own national team” is a sentence that should require significant explanation from the governing body of West Indies cricket, and that explanation has not been fully provided.

MOTTLEY ON GUN VIOLENCE: “TOO MANY FAMILIES GRIEVING”

In her Good Friday message, PM Mottley acknowledged that the persistence of gun violence has left too many Barbadian families grieving. This is honest, and it is welcome. Barbados has seen a troubling rise in firearms-related crime that does not fit comfortably with its image as a stable, prosperous island nation. The PM’s Easter message called for renewal and transformation. The Bugle calls for specifics on the plan, which is not mutually exclusive with calling for renewal.

MOTTLEY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: “FIFTEEN YEARS OF ADDICTION”

Speaking at the opening of a new residential facility for young people at Holders Hill, PM Mottley warned that social media has weakened meaningful communication between adults and youth and distorted reality for an entire generation. The Bugle finds this analysis broadly correct. The Bugle also notes that this analysis has been correct for about fifteen years and the structural response has lagged behind the diagnosis in most Caribbean jurisdictions, including Barbados.

THE EASTER MESSAGE

PM Mottley’s Easter message called on Barbadians to be kinder to one another, to fulfil promises, and to remember that the country is at its best when it stands together. The Bajan Bugle considers this good advice and hopes that the 58% of registered voters who did not show up will return to the polls four years from now with renewed interest in their own governance.

The Bajan Bugle covers Barbados with affection and the occasional raised eyebrow. Satirical publication. All stories sourced from Barbados Today, CBC Barbados, and regional media.