‘Buyer’s Remorse’

Barbadians have not given up on the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and this is evident with the influx of new members, according to Outgoing General Secretary Guyson Mayers.

Addressing the press conference to announce the DLP’s 65th Annual General Conference, which gets underway Friday September 25th to Sunday September 27th at George Street Headquarters, he disclosed that the political party has in recent days been reprinting membership forms to satisfy the request.

“The feedback coming through is that people believe that Barbadians are having “buyer’s remorse”, and a lot of persons are trying to make sure that this party is ready to face any challenge, and any opportunity that is presented to it.”

“I think that a number of young people believe that they can do no worse than what they’re seeing in the current administration – and believe they can do better, and they will not have the opportunity to have the voice that they think they need to have in Barbados outside of the Democratic Labour Party,” he stressed.

“Barbados is now in a position where we have alternative parties, yet the general sentiment seems unmistakably to be that the Democratic Labour Party is still the alternative to the Barbados Labour Party. And people who think that they can offer something to the country will seek out the Democratic Labour Party.”

Voting for the Executive and General Council commences today from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m.

Mayers went on to reveal that only two persons will contest the position of President – the current President Verla De Peiza and former General Secretary George Pilgrim; while 15 persons will vie for Vice-President; four persons for General Secretary; three for Assistant General Secretary; four for Treasurer and 29 seeking to full out the General Council arm of the Party.

“We have a mixture of persons offering themselves, a few persons of experience in terms of political candidacy. A lot more persons of experience in terms of years around the party and who have been most invaluable in guiding this entire process, and the young blood that are not shying away from offering themselves for the highest offices in the party.”

He also gave the assurance that COVID-19 protocols will be in effect, pointing out, “This year we are going to have a cut off of 175 persons who can be in physical attendance. We expect others to join us online.”

“We have established the voting booths in the conference room and it will be one-way traffic. Persons will be sanitizing the booths throughout the day. Also, while we invite all members to come and participate, you will have to be a financial member.” (TL)