Some of us are looking to the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) later this month with more than a little interest. It is after all the other half of the duopoly that has ‘ruled’ Barbados without serious challenge for the last 60+ years. Since its decimation at the polls in 2018 the electorate has observed President Verla De Peiza struggling to keep pace with her counterpart. All agree De Peiza was dealt a bad hand, however, she accepted the job and it is what it is. The AGM will give Barbadians the opportunity to acquire a more informed position.
The DLP brand despite the unprecedented defeat in 2018 is ‘seared’ into the political psyche of Barbadians. This has made it difficult for a third political party to create a foothold to offer serious challenge to the duopoly. In the short term the electorate will have to make do with the main combatants being DLP versus BLP contest in 2023 when the next general election is constitutionally due.
To the surprise of many including the blogmaster there has been the appearance of the ‘old guard’ offering themselves as candidates for posts. Of interest is the contest between George Pilgrim who will challenge Verla De Peiza for the presidency of the party. Pilgrim was the long standing general secretary of the DLP during an unflattering time. As hard as the blogmaster tried to apply logic to Pilgrim’s decision to challenge De Peiza, there is no logic except to state the obvious- it is his democratic right to run if he satisfied the nomination criteria of the party.
The blogmaster anticipates De Peiza will overcome Pilgrim’s challenge, she must because he is a weaker candidate. Pilgrim represents everything the electorate rejected in the DLP two years ago. There is no credible alternative on show with the 2023 general election appearing in the political rear view mirror. You may recall the result of the vote in the DLP stronghold of St. John between Charles Griffith and George Pilgrim. The final result Griffith 2,963 to Pilgrim 1598. Should the performance in a general election influence internal nominations and elections? Political parties are in the business of harvesting popularity. The DLP needs a president guaranteed to inspire members of the party and to be the architect of a good strategic and tactical plan. Members of the DLP have hobson’s choice, what gives De Peiza the edge is that the DLP headquarters located at George Street was literally allowed to rot under Pilgrim’s watch.
A political party is defined as an organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.
The Electoral Knowledge Network
Given the design of our political setup the DLP is a private entity and is permitted to manage its affairs as outlined in its constitution. Decisions taken at party conference however have implications for the country especially in an entrenched duopoly. We have an inkling what is De Peiza’s plan – see link. There is no recent update on Pilgrim’s Facebook page to indicate he is politically active.
In both parties over the years we have seen a tendency to recycle the same old, same old. Rising apathy should be a barometer for political parties that the public is expecting more or expect to be punished with laughter at the polls. Unfortunately a vibrant democracy requires more from citizens than placing an X every five years.
(Quote):
The Dullard is not anti Bdos but pro data. The evidence is clear.The results are known…But you know all this already! (Unquote).
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Are you implying that tomorrow’s parade will be just another serving of the same bowl of warm-over cold soup containing the same old ingredients hot enough to expel the gas of BS?
Can we expect to see floating some ‘old’ pigtails laced the following sound-bites:
The need to restructure the economy through digitization.
Tighter alternative energy targets while prospecting for oil offshore the long-promised island of paradise off the West Coast.
A revised map to find the long-promised hotel corridor fit for a post-Covid world; even without a Hyatt and no booming Bridgetown.
A revamping of the justice system to turn Barbados into the World No.1 hub for doing business just like it was destined to be the Entrepreneur capital of the world by 2020.
How about a rehash of the promise to give Barbadians a taste of Republican status by November 2021 even if it involves a very costly re-branding exercise and massive cultural reconditioning? Shouldn’t this gift horse of republicanism have been delivered in 2016?
Old Queen Lizzie will soon be leaving the throne so this might be the perfect time to make such an announcement even if it is just to comfort the brigade keen on seeing the removal of that remnant of the curse of slavery and colonialism, the Nelson statue.
PS:
It would be nice to hear of a programme to facilitate, urgently, the privatization of the BWA and TB into the hands of ordinary Bajans as an initial pathway towards the economic enfranchisement of black Bajans with savings sitting idle in non-interesting bearing accounts at the commercial banks and credit unions.
Miller…same old warmed over lies…..we already had the big head fraud come out last week telling the same lies from the 1970s about vendors, we were teenagers when we heard those empty promises over 40 years ago, donkeys were still on the road, not many road were paved and there were hardly any vehicles on the road, they figured most people had died off and those still around would not remember shit, and they would be right, but they never factored in people like myself who tend to remember every shit…….different faces, same old lies.
The Republic and Nelson themes are the perfect distraction for the corona disaster. Let’s spice it all up with a little racism against minorities – and the naive black masses are like under drugs and don’t realize that they have to live with permanent wage cuts.
All in all a perfect production of our government and Charles “Chopstick” Jong. Bravo!
Honorable Blogmaster:
Back to the issue you raised “Verla or George”. …!It was around August 22 – 23, 2010?, that the late Comrade E. Besley Maycock (R.I.P), perhaps against his better judgment and despite the odds, kindly moved my nomination for the position of DLP General Secretary. Suffice it that another Pilgrim, (no relation), won with overwhelming support.
Donville, then a Minister of the Crown, closed out the matter, in a squeeze play, when he sought and accepted the position of Deputy General Secretary.
I do not know what General Secretary Pilgrim’s platform was. (Nor Inniss’s for that matter). I do not know anything about his vision, his accomplishments, and what one of his supporters deemed his “vibrant leadership”, as DLP General Secretary.
No doubt the question you will pose to him is what does he offer this time around as he seeks an upgrade and contests DePeiza’s leadership of the Party.
He is experienced and articulate and In fairness to him, beyond cheap excuses, he will explain in detail his list of accomplishments over time – in terms of party finances. organization, outreach, etc, etc – and why he should now preside over the DLP instead of Ms. DePeiza.
Ms. DePeiza, on the other hand, in a system of “personality parties”, will attempt to show us why she and her party are preferable to Ms. Mottley and the current Administration. This may well be a daunting, if not impossible task. She can hardly do this with the albatrosses around her neck, the so-called “old guard”, totally rejected by the Barbadian electorate a mere two (2) years ago, annihilated 30-0 making Barbadian history.
Arguably, a substantial majority of the Barbadian electorate perceived them as non-productive, useless, venal, corrupt and ineffective, notwithstanding ludicrous chatter about “good governance”, while in Opposition.
Obviously, DePeiza has no choice but to seek to re-build the Party with younger, sharp, positive, energetic talent, rather than carry the weight of the cadavers of yesteryear.
In this context of wholesale rejection, as with Jeremiah, can the Ethiopian (e.g “the old guard”) now “change his skin, of the leopard his spots”? The pickings seem slim.
So since we are on the topic of sellout governments, we all know someone(s) at BWA TIEF 10 YEARS WORTH OF WATER, took a bribe and gave the water away to the residents at Jamestown Park and then ran off to UK, none of the sellouts in the parliament, office of DPP or COP ever tried to extradite the person or investigate who else tief the people’s water, is that the same place that has had a burst main for the past two days and is the repair work the cause of half the island now not having any water…just asking.
Say it ain’t so Honourabke Blognaster
Not George Pig grin!
Dat boy is as ingrunt as de day is long!
So years ago when asked to describe George Pig grin the late told me
“Several Police Stations, locally and internationally, have an APB out for him”
De ole man asked “is he a wanted man, is he a criminal that they are looking for him?”
“No, no there are several APB Notices with picture of him saying
“MISSING, VILLAGE IDIOT!”
Interesting last paragraph by young Stuart.
Until thus complete lot if DLP candidates is totally eradicated they must never be allowed back into the HoA.
Never!!!
As predicted here comes Lashley in today’s most popular Daily.
DE PEIZA TO MOTTLEY: STAY OUT OF OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS!
“…One would think the Prime Minister would have enough on her hands…with a bloated ineffective Cabinet…”
https://www.facebook.com/DLPBB/videos/954756878362321/