Atherley was elected in 2018 as a candidate [1] of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). As the BLP won all seats in the election, Atherley resigned from the party to serve as parliamentary opposition. He 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.
Born on 26 February 1954 in Barbados, Atherley received his early education at the Federal High School. He later studied at the Christian Union Church of the West Indies Bible College, Chapel Christian University (USA), the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, and the Haggai Institute of Leadership Training in Singapore. Atherley serves as Senior Minister of the Better Life Assembly and is a member of the Evangelical Holiness Christian Community. He is also the Barbados regional head of the Christian Union Church of the West Indies.[2]
Atherley is married to Esther Hinds-Atherley.[3] He has two sons.[2]
Politicsedit
As a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Atherley first entered Parliament in the 1999 elections. He was elected from the Saint Michael West constituency, defeating Branford Taitt of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).[4] Atherley was the first Christian minister to be elected to Parliament.[2] He was re-elected in 2003 by a slightly smaller margin against the DLP's Michael A. Carrington.[5] During his time in Parliament, Atherley was Parliamentary Secretary in the Attorney General's Office and Home Office, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office under Owen Arthur.[2] He also served as First Vice Chairman of the BLP from 2004 to 2005.[6] Atherley sought to retain his seat in the 2008 election, but was defeated this time by Carrington.[7] He returned as a BLP candidate in 2013, but lost to Carrington.[8]
In the 2018 elections, Atherley won back the St. Michael West seat. The BLP won all the seats in the House of Assembly; no party had done so since independence. On 25 May 2018, BLP leader Mia Mottley was sworn in as Barbados' first female prime minister.[9]
On 31 May, less than a week after the swearing-in of the new government, Atherley informed the prime minister of his intention to leave the BLP and become an independent parliamentarian. Due to the absence of other non-BLP MPs in Parliament, Atherley was sworn in the next day as Leader of the Opposition,[10] which entitled him to receive the parliamentary prerogatives of the office, an increased annual salary of BB$129,000, and the power to advise on the appointment of the two minority representatives in the Senate.[11]
On 8 June 2019, Atherley announced the formation of the People's Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) as the new main opposition party under his leadership. His appointed senators Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn were members as well.[12][13]
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.[14]
Referencesedit
^King, Katrina (30 December 2021). "New APP in town! PdP and UPP merge | Loop Barbados". Loop News. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
^ abcd"Joseph Atherley". Caribbean Elections. KnowledgeWalk Institute. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Bishop Atherley now Leader of the Opposition". Barbados Advocate. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Barbados General Election Results 1999". Caribbean Elections. KnowledgeWalk Institute. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Barbados General Election Results 2003". Caribbean Elections. KnowledgeWalk Institute. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^. Barbados Labour Party. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Barbados General Election Results 2008". Caribbean Elections. KnowledgeWalk Institute. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Barbados General Election Results 2013". Caribbean Elections. KnowledgeWalk Institute. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Barbados General Election Results 2018". Caribbean Elections. KnowledgeWalk Institute. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Atherley sworn in as Opposition Leader". NationNews. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Smith, Kareem M. (2 July 2019). . Barbados Today. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019.
^. News784. 10 June 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^King, Katrina (8 June 2019). . Barbados Today. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Election Results 2022: St Michael 2". 22 January 2022.
joseph, atherley, joseph, junior, sylvester, atherley, born, february, 1954, barbadian, religious, minister, politician, served, leader, opposition, house, assembly, barbados, from, 2018, 2022, leader, people, party, democracy, development, since, june, 2019, . Joseph Junior Sylvester Atherley born 26 February 1954 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 AtherleyAtherley in 2020Leader of the People s Party for Democracy and DevelopmentIncumbentAssumed office 8 June 2019Preceded byParty establishedLeader of the OppositionIn office 1 June 2018 19 January 2022Prime MinisterMia MottleyPreceded byMia MottleySucceeded byRalph Thorne 2024 Member of Parliamentfor Saint Michael WestIn office 5 June 2018 27 December 2021Preceded byMichael A CarringtonSucceeded byChristopher GibbsIn office 16 February 1999 12 February 2008Preceded byBranford TaittSucceeded byMichael A CarringtonPersonal detailsBornJoseph Junior Sylvester Atherley 1954 02 26 26 February 1954 age 70 BarbadosPolitical partyPeople s Party for Democracy and DevelopmentOther politicalaffiliationsBarbados Labour Party Until 2018 Independent 2018 2019 Alliance Party for Progress 2021 present Atherley was elected in 2018 as a candidate 1 of the Barbados Labour Party BLP As the BLP won all seats in the election Atherley resigned from the party to serve as parliamentary opposition He 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 Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editBorn on 26 February 1954 in Barbados Atherley received his early education at the Federal High School He later studied at the Christian Union Church of the West Indies Bible College Chapel Christian University USA the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill and the Haggai Institute of Leadership Training in Singapore Atherley serves as Senior Minister of the Better Life Assembly and is a member of the Evangelical Holiness Christian Community He is also the Barbados regional head of the Christian Union Church of the West Indies 2 Atherley is married to Esther Hinds Atherley 3 He has two sons 2 Politics editAs a member of the Barbados Labour Party BLP Atherley first entered Parliament in the 1999 elections He was elected from the Saint Michael West constituency defeating Branford Taitt of the Democratic Labour Party DLP 4 Atherley was the first Christian minister to be elected to Parliament 2 He was re elected in 2003 by a slightly smaller margin against the DLP s Michael A Carrington 5 During his time in Parliament Atherley was Parliamentary Secretary in the Attorney General s Office and Home Office and Minister of State in the Prime Minister s Office under Owen Arthur 2 He also served as First Vice Chairman of the BLP from 2004 to 2005 6 Atherley sought to retain his seat in the 2008 election but was defeated this time by Carrington 7 He returned as a BLP candidate in 2013 but lost to Carrington 8 In the 2018 elections Atherley won back the St Michael West seat The BLP won all the seats in the House of Assembly no party had done so since independence On 25 May 2018 BLP leader Mia Mottley was sworn in as Barbados first female prime minister 9 On 31 May less than a week after the swearing in of the new government Atherley informed the prime minister of his intention to leave the BLP and become an independent parliamentarian Due to the absence of other non BLP MPs in Parliament Atherley was sworn in the next day as Leader of the Opposition 10 which entitled him to receive the parliamentary prerogatives of the office an increased annual salary of BB 129 000 and the power to advise on the appointment of the two minority representatives in the Senate 11 On 8 June 2019 Atherley announced the formation of the People s Party for Democracy and Development PdP as the new main opposition party under his leadership His appointed senators Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn were members as well 12 13 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 14 References edit King Katrina 30 December 2021 New APP in town PdP and UPP merge Loop Barbados Loop News Retrieved 30 July 2023 a b c d Joseph Atherley Caribbean Elections KnowledgeWalk Institute Retrieved 11 November 2021 Bishop Atherley now Leader of the Opposition Barbados Advocate 2 June 2018 Retrieved 11 November 2021 Barbados General Election Results 1999 Caribbean Elections KnowledgeWalk Institute Retrieved 11 November 2021 Barbados General Election Results 2003 Caribbean Elections KnowledgeWalk Institute Retrieved 11 November 2021 Executive Committee Barbados Labour Party Archived from the original on 12 December 2007 Retrieved 11 November 2021 Barbados General Election Results 2008 Caribbean Elections KnowledgeWalk Institute Retrieved 11 November 2021 Barbados General Election Results 2013 Caribbean Elections KnowledgeWalk Institute Retrieved 11 November 2021 Barbados General Election Results 2018 Caribbean Elections KnowledgeWalk Institute Retrieved 11 November 2021 Atherley sworn in as Opposition Leader NationNews 1 June 2018 Retrieved 11 November 2021 Smith Kareem M 2 July 2019 Atherley PM didn t want me Barbados Today Archived from the original on 3 July 2019 Barbados Opposition Leader launches new political party News784 10 June 2019 Archived from the original on 11 June 2019 Retrieved 11 November 2021 King Katrina 8 June 2019 Atherley launches People s Party for Democracy and Development Barbados Today Archived from the original on 7 December 2019 Retrieved 11 November 2021 Election Results 2022 St Michael 2 22 January 2022 External links editParliament Profile Parliament of Barbados Preceded byBranford Taitt Member of Parliamentfor Saint Michael West1999 2008 Succeeded byMichael A Carrington Preceded byMichael A Carrington Member of Parliamentfor Saint Michael West2018 2021 Succeeded byChristopher Gibbs Political offices Preceded byMia Mottley Leader of the Opposition2018 2022 Vacant Party political offices Party established Leader of the People s Party for Democracy and Development2019 present Incumbent Leader of the Alliance Party for Progress2021 present Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Atherley amp oldid 1221868934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
