St. Lucy: Phillips third time lucky

The constituents of St. Lucy have elected Peter Ricardo Phillips of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) as the representative of the parish.

At 5.20 am Phillips’ resounding victory was declared by Returning Officer, the Reverend Stephen Strickland at the counting centre of the Daryll Jordan Secondary School in Trents, St. Lucy.

He is a third time lucky nominee and defeated four other candidates. They were Mr. Denis St. Elmo Kellman of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), who was looking to secure his sixth consecutive term, the Reverend John Wesley Carter of Solutions Barbados (SB), Wayne Theodore Griffith of the United Progressive Party (UPP) and Richard Ronald Roach of the Barbados Integrity Movement (BIM).

Phillips arrived at the counting centre during the early hours of the morning and a very large crowd of supporters were already there. On the outside, the supporters dressed in red shirts and carrying placards, sang jubilantly, and chanted phrases such as, “We want Phillips!”

He spoke with The Barbados Advocate after securing victory. He stated, “It has been a long, long journey but I said when I came into politics that I was here for the long haul. I was here to ensure that the people of St. Lucy get the best representation that there ever was and that is what I intend to give.”

He continued, “I said at my political meetings throughout this campaign that I will be the same person I was then as I am now – as their new MP.”

The representative revealed that his victory is dedicated to his father. “Beginning September this year I will launch the Rupert Phillips Scholarship fund where I will help at least one student in this constiuency.”Phillips revealed he had heard about several parties across the parish in celebration of his win but he pledged that, “I will first go back to my home church, the church that raised me and moulded me in Pie Corner and I will have a Thanksgiving service because I have always learnt to put God first, and then the celebration begins!”

Review of voting
Up to press time, there were no significant reported issues affecting individuals in the northern constituency as they cast their ballot. Early in the day, at 6 am, a long line of voters were observed at a few polling stations, including the Salvation Army, Checker Hall (LA2) while at Selah Primary School (LB1, LB2) and The William Donald George Parish Centre (Old St. Lucy’s Rectory) (LD1) only a trickle of voters were seen just after 11 am.

During the last general election in 2013, there was a total of 5 882 votes cast. DLP’s Kellman garnered the majority of votes at seven out of the 13 boxes. He had 3 152 votes (53.6%) while the BLP’s Phillips obtained 2 730 votes (46.4%). Meanwhile, the results during this election show there was a total of 5 965 votes. Phillips obtained the majority in every single box. The votes cast in his favour were 3 959 (66.4%) and the votes cast in Kellman’s favour were 1 789 (30 %).

First-time candidates
Griffith of the UPP received 69 votes (1.2%). Reverend Carter of SB received 121 votes (2 %) and BIM’s Roach ganered 27 votes (0.5%).

There were 16 spoilt votes.

The Election Clerk was Colin Cumberbatch.›