Khaleel Kothdiwala sworn in as Barbados’ first muslim and youngest Senator

Barbados: Khaleel Kothdiwal, aged 23, actively working as a youth activist made history on October 27, 2026 by officially being sworn in as the youngest Senator in the nation’s history. He also made the record for being Barbados’s first ever Muslim senator.

The swearing ceremony was organized at the State House where all the newly appointed senators took the oaths in front of the President Hon. Jeffrey Bostic. Marking their attendance in the sworn in ceremony were the Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and all the senior government officials in addition to the newly appointed Senator’s family.

The appointment of Khaleel Kothdiwal also finally gives a closure to the four year long trial and test process of the 2022 suit started by the Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, the announcement she made after winning the elections and recommending Khaleel Kothdiwal back then when he was just 18 year old.

The official sworn in ceremony for him could not take place at that time because of his age and also because as per the rules and regulations of Constitution of Barbados, the official sworn in ceremony could not take place.

As an official senator Khaleel Kothdiwal spoke “I feel ready to get to work… I don’t really feel that this is about me… My focus is going to be assisting my colleagues in translating the policy of the government into legislation that can deliver for the people of our country.”

Expressing her views on the appointment of her chosen senate Khaleel Kothdiwal, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley stated “We have to at this age also ensure that there is continuity in Barbados and that we are exposing our young people. That is the lesson we want to share with the country. That duty really comes first.”

She also commented that the appointment of all the new senators is the government’s attempt to ensure that the youth of the country is actively involved in the matters of the nation while also informing the citizens of the nation that further changes in the Senate composition are expected.