Mia Amor Mottley
Former LSE student Mia Amor Mottley has become the first female prime minister of Barbados.
The 52-year-old, who graduated from LSE in 1986 with a degree in Law (LLB), will be sworn in as Barbados’ eighth premier since the country gained independence from Britain in 1966.
Mia Amor Mottley led the Barbados Labour Party to victory in the May 2018 general elections on the Caribbean island, ending the decade-long rule of the Democratic Labour Party.
Commenting on Mia Mottley's electoral success, Professor Gareth A Jones, Director of The Latin America and Caribbean Centre at LSE, said: "Mia Mottley becomes not only the first woman to hold the position, but only the fifth ever in the English-speaking Caribbean and the only woman currently in office.
"After running a positive electoral campaign, the new prime minister has been given a strong mandate for change, winning every seat in parliament with nearly 75% of the popular vote. In her first days in office, Ms Mottley has sought to enhance stability and strengthen alliances, confirming a campaign promise that Barbados will remain in the Caribbean Court of Justice after her predecessor had threatened withdrawal."