Thorne: BLP trying to steal election

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is accusing the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) of trying to steal the next General Election.

The claim was made by Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne during a media conference in the Office of the Opposition Leader on Hincks Street, The City, yesterday.

“A few Sundays ago, I think one of the newspapers in this country published a list with 8 291 names [to be deleted from the register of electors]. At the time, we charged this [ruling party] with seeking to micromanage. And now I go further, to steal the election, and I make no apology for that. The Prime Minister can travel as far as she wants and accuse us of defaming this country, but I say the evidence is there that this [administration] has been involved in the internal management of the EBC (Electoral and Boundaries Commission),” he said.

Thorne also said this was evidenced by correspondence coming out of the Cabinet Office, by ministers “making authoritative statements for and on behalf of the EBC” and “transactions entered into with public officers who are not normally concerned in the business of the EBC”. He also spoke of one of their candidates, Ensley Grainger, who will be running in St Michael East, appearing on that list.

EBC list ‘needs more work’

The Opposition Leader said it was clear more work needed to be done on the EBC list before any election was called and pledged they would first request a resolution with the body and, barring results, would take the matter to court.

He also urged the EBC to adequately staff all registering offices in every constituency so people would not have to trek to Warrens, St Michael, especially those with limited transportation options.

The DLP president said his party was ready to contest the next General Election whenever it was called, adding they had a full roster of 30 candidates. He identified their final candidate as attorney Damien Fanus, who was ratified last week to contest the St Michel West seat.

Senator André Worrell, the DLP general secretary who will be running in St Michael Central, said it was a fallacy to believe the Dems were fractured while the BLP remained solidified.

“You can talk about the whole process in which the Barbados Labour Party is going about trying to remove certain MPs (Members of Parliament). We are possibly, as they said, weeks away from an election, but they are now, at the last minute, trying to sneak a candidate into St Michael Central.

“You’ve heard about The City also being mentioned as one where their candidate may not be running again, and we’ve been hearing rumours of them trying to remove the sitting MP for St Philip North, Dr Sonia Browne, not to mention Trevor Prescod in St Michael East as well. So, all of this speaks to a bit of disunity within that party,” he charged.

Worrell questioned the timing of the retirement from elective politics of St Michael Central MP and Speaker of the House of Assembly Arthur Holder.

“Up to the end of November, there was an article in the [media] where the Speaker of the House said that he was running again, when they made the announcement about also giving the land to the persons in Waterford. He did say that he was running again.

“Now, all of a sudden, he had an epiphany. I don’t know what would have caused it, but after the passage of the legislation in Parliament to adopt an independent Speaker, we can now hear that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Arthur Holder, is no longer running, and he’s throwing his support behind whoever comes forward as a candidate,” he said.

Holder has publicly backed attorney Tyra Trotman, a former member of the DLP. However, former Senator Dr Lynette Holder has also declared her intention to contest the riding for the BLP, saying she had received calls from constituents who wanted to feel like they were playing a part in the selection process.

Weren’t given options

“Persons who knew this contacted me when they realised that a nomination was being held, but they weren’t given options,” she said.

In response, Worrell said it seemed as if the BLP was not giving prospective candidates adequate time to step forward.

“If it brought Lynette Holder to the realisation that this could be a possible injustice, it’s because in two weeks, you don’t give any room for any other prospective candidates in the Barbados Labour Party to step forward and put their name.

“You need to be fair and allow as many people the opportunity as possible. They often criticise the Democratic Labour Party for not being fair in how we select our candidates, but how this could be fair when you keep these things at the last minute, and there are others who may have an interest, not having the opportunity to get themselves into the race and solidify themselves in the constituency?” he asked, adding there were similar situations in St James North and St George North.

As for his campaign, Worrell said he was unfazed by what the BLP was doing, and his focus remained on improving the lives of youth and the elderly, while tackling the issues relating to crime, health care and the cost of living.

Fanus said his late arrival was inconsequential as it was more about the work done, pledging he would do his best for the people of St Michael West. (CA)

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