Prime Minister of Barbados November 1966, the office was renamed "Prime Minister." Despite the renaming, the functions of the office were not significantly changed, and the table below therefore counts Sir Grantley's term as Premier as part of the Prime Ministerial overview. There have been 3 premiers and 8 post-independence Prime Ministers. The current living former Prime Ministers of Barbados are the Rt Hon. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, the Rt Hon. Owen Arthur, and the Rt Hon. Freundel Stuart. The Prime Minister advises the crown, appoints ministers, controls a majority in the House of Assembly, and appoints 12 senators. Although the Prime Minister is appointed
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for example, the powers of government were divided equally between the Duke of Newcastle and William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, leading to them both alternatively being described as Prime Minister. Furthermore, many thought that the title "Prime Minister" usurped the Sovereign's constitutional position as "head of the government" and that it was an affront to other ministers because they were all appointed by and equally responsible to the Sovereign. For these reasons there was a reluctance to use the title. Although Walpole is now called the "first" Prime Minister, the title was not commonly used during his tenure. Walpole