Payne: Wear red on Heroes’ Day

THE Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is expecting a massive turnout for this Saturday’s Heroes’ Day Picnic and Political Rally at Barclay’s Park,
St. Andrew.

Chairman of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), George Payne, has called on all Barbadians on that day to show solidarity with BLP and those who believe that the Freundel Stuart administration is playing around with the people of Barbados and has yet to call elections.

While speaking yesterday at the site visit, he also expressed his disappointment that even though they have requested the use of 15 Transport Board buses, they have received no response and he believes that this is a political move.

According to him, “The BLP normally holds a picnic to commemorate the founding of the BLP. This is the 80th anniversary picnic and it is special because it is election year and the 28th of April, in addition to National Heroes’ Day, it is the birthday of Sir Grantley Adams, the founder of the BLP. Last year we attracted an audience of over 15 000 and from all indications it appears we will have double that because of interest that has been showed in the picnic and it is election year.”

He explained, “We are disappointed that a number of buses from the Transport Board we may not have those facilities this year. Very early in February we wrote the Transport Board, we indicated to them we need 15 buses and they didn’t respond. We sent e-mails and they indicated they would get back to us and up to this date they have not done so. This is in contrast to last year where we had actually their response within a week of being informed.

“I would think revenue would be welcomed, but one of the things that is disconcerting they have not even come back to us to tell us why. I believe it is political because it is election year and I believe they have been directed not to allow the BLP to be accommodated with any buses from the Transport Board and this is unfortunate because we have been holding this event for years and we have never had any issues. It is discourteous for the Transport Board to behave in this manner.”

However, Payne indicated, “We have taken the decision to hire over 185 minibuses because we want to make sure everyone is able to come and we would like those persons in support of the BLP and who are supportive that the Prime Minister has failed to call elections on time to wear something red on Saturday in solidarity with BLP. We would like Saturday to be a red letter day and if you can’t make it to the East Coast, we are asking you to wear something red.” (NB)