Candidate selection coming soon
CANDIDATE selection is very much on the agenda of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), with persons expressing an interest either verbally or by letter for all constituencies.
This revelation came from General Secretary, George Pilgrim, yesterday during a press conference held at the DLP’s George Street Headquarters, where he assured the selection will be made “very soon”.
Pilgrim told the media that persons are gearing up for the marginal BLP seats and in particular the St. James Central constituency, currently held by Kerrie Symmonds, saying many in the DLP are eager to see him go.
He explained, however, that there is a difference between the DLP and BLP as it relates to candidate selection, the latter of which he contended is always riddled with controversy.
The general secretary said the process of the DLP is extremely rigorous, and has not just started.
“For the last three years this party has been drilling down into the issue of candidate selection. Every month a report comes on the performance and activity in the constituencies that are under consideration. Every month for the last three years,” he revealed.
“So it is not an overnight or weekend exercise under a tent. We function based on data, feedback and consultation. It is a very consultative process and I want to credit our party leader for insisting that over the last three years that the party consulted with the people of the branches in keeping us up-to-date on the performance of all of those,” Pilgrim pointed out.
He further stated that, “When we are selecting candidates in the DLP, we follow the Constitution. In our candidate selection process, the executive selects and the General Council ratifies with consultation with the committee of management.”
“And in one night, not a year, in one night, with the corporation and support of the two councils being in agreement with each other, the party can select all 30 candidates. We have a very non-public candidate selection process... We do our business with decorum, we have rules that we obey, and we don’t break the rules for the convenience of some at the expense of others,” he exhorted.
Pilgrim sympathised with persons who were wronged by the BLP including embattled Dr. Maria Agard and David Gill.
“Anybody vexed with the leadership with the BLP, call me. I drive around with application forms. This is not a party that engages in rejecting people and publicly humiliating people. We don’t like it. The people on this side are family are friends. The people on that side are alliances,” he stated.
“I have one vote. The executive ratifies and accepts the members and let me say if it were to come before me, as an individual on the executive council I would personally vote to welcome Agard or any of those numbers of the DLP. Signed, sealed and delivered,” he said. (JH)