MIA: Missing in Action, says DePeiza
Christ Church West Candidate Verla DePeiza is making it clear which of this country’s political parties has the interest of women at heart.
She said it has been the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and this is seen in its legislations.“The Democratic Labour Party moves women forward,” she insisted during a recent DLP National Meeting in the constituency of St James South.
“As far back as I can remember the DLP has been championing the cause of women. In our historical context, the plight of domestics was resolved by the Democratic Labour Party. Pregnant women received benefits under a Democratic Labour Party – the work on behalf of women as a subset of this society has always been at the forefront of the mind of DLP.”
“In recent times we have continued to have a focus on what will uplift females in this country. In a previous Democratic Labour Party administration, the Domestic Violence Protection Order Legislation came into play …Under this present DLP administration…the original legislation was brought under review, widening the scope of who could apply, and it included that important category of persons who were in volatile relationships, but they did not live together.”
Moreover, DePeiza enlightened supporters gathered at the National Cultural Foundation car park, that when legislation focusing on women was being debated in Parliament, Opposition Leader Mia Mottley was absent.
“I did my research and I found that on the days that the Domestic Violence Protection Order Act was debated in Parliament there was someone missing in action. Legislation that was critical and pivotal for the development of women in this country and someone was missing in action,” she pointed out.
“In the slew of labour legislation that the DLP piloted on behalf of workers, there was first the Employment Rights Act, this is an act that sat on the floor like a doorstop under the Barbados Labour Party previous administration and never saw the light of day. Our Minister of Labour, Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo picked it up, dusted it off and presented to Parliament…When the Employment Rights Act was debated in Parliament in 2012, somebody was missing in action. Somebody did not show up for you,” she told supporters.
DePeiza is therefore asking Barbadians to recognise who really cares.
“If the Democratic Labour Party could find the time, in trying times, to do not one but three pieces of legislations that women can depend on to make her position better in this country and if the Democratic Labour Party says to you that 10 years was not enough, we still have more to do for you – why can’t you mark your 'x' for the Democratic Labour Party on the 24th May.” (TL)