DLP President confident of stronger party 

Barbadians are calling out for assistance and leadership, and President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla De Peiza, says the DLP is that “saving voice”.

Her comments came as she addressed a gathering of the party faithful at the political party’s George Street Headquarters yesterday morning, to commemorate its 64th anniversary.

“What I hope to do is inspire you so that you get up and do on behalf of your country through the Democratic Labour Party. I inspire you I hope, to speak up and speak out. There may well be repercussions, but I have urged you privately and now I urge you publicly to have the courage of your convictions,” she declared.

She made the call as she alluded to the party’s defeat at the polls almost one year ago last May, as she told those gathered, including some of the former Members of Parliament and Ministers of Government, that after “tribulation comes a jubilation” and she is therefore confident that with the hard work the party has been putting in over the last year, they are well on their way to rebuilding and coming back better than ever. However, she warned the members that it will be not be an easy task.

“The hard work that we put in now will benefit us in the medium and the long-term; setting out strategy, firming up the foundation and getting ready to send the walls up in the air. This first year was hard, all the other years coming will be harder, I will not fool you. But if you start knowing that, then it makes the job that much easier, because if it turns out not to be quite as hard as you thought, then you feel a sense first of relief, and then of accomplishment,” she said.

De Peiza contended, “That is what we are aiming for, that at the end of this exercise we have learned our lessons and in learning our lessons we put them into practice and show Barbados that the Democratic Labour Party can reform itself, can reshape itself, can rebuild itself and in so doing, can reform, reshape and rebuild our country.”

She added too that as the party undertakes its rebuilding exercise it will call for discipline from each and every member. She made the point while making it clear that there are “no big jobs and little jobs, there is just a lot of work to be done”. Reflecting then on the weeklong celebrations for the 64th anniversary, the DLP’s first female president said all of it was aimed at getting them back to their basics and the president noted how heartened she has been at closeness of the party over the last year. (JRT)