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In an obvious strategy to ride the goodwill generated from Errol Barrow Day and possibly to redirect attention from the ‘#wegatherin’ revelry at Archer’s Bay, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) announced 15 of 30 candidates to contest the next general election.

It was an austere presentation that did not excite a cynical blogmaster. However, it is good the DLP leadership has stabilised the workings of the party and finally reveal candidates for public examination. We await the other 15.

The candidates and their constituencies are as follows:

•  Amoy Gilding-Bourne will run for Christ Church East.

•  Andrew Cave will represent Christ Church West.

•  Senator Andre Worrell has been named as the candidate for St Michael Central.

•  Senator Ryan Walters will contest the St Michael North West seat.

•  Pedro Shepherd has been selected for St Michael South East.

•  Dr Rolerick Hinds will vie for St Thomas.

•  Richard Sealy, a veteran politician, will run in St Michael South Central.

•  Nathaniel Wesley Boyce has been chosen for St Michael South.

•  Randall Rouse will represent St Joseph.

•  Shaquani Hunte has been named the candidate for St Michael West.

•  Dale Rowe will run in the City of Bridgetown.

•  Alvin Toppin has been selected for St Lucy.

•  Neil Marshall will contest the St Philip South seat.

•  Dr David Estwick, another veteran politician, will run in St Philip West.

•  Dr Dawn Marie Armstrong will represent St Michael North.

Both Dr David Estwick and Dr Dawn Marie Armstrong could not attend the press conference. 

Source: Nation

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72 responses to “DLP 50% ready”

  1. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Not coming from …..

  2. David Avatar
    David

    The NDP first and was perceived as a one man party. Haynes a man with a personal grievance. Full stop.

  3. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Did Barrow not have a personal grievance when he left the BLP?

    Did Adams not have a personal grievance when he left the progressives, we think?

    Do politicians everywhere in the world not find personal grievances for such changes?

    Did RAT not have person grievances for leaving the BLP, twice?

  4. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Or conservatives we better think …………

  5. Lorenzo Avatar
    Lorenzo

    Lorenzo
    Hi David,I see Pacha bigging up Mr Thorne for ousting Dr Yearwood to lead the DLP.Pure hogwash.Firstly, Dr Yearwood is a lightweight p9lit8cian who had not won any seat but had plenty ego.Therefore Mr Thorne having a seat won under the bees had easy pickings to lead the dems.Let us see how he fares up against Ms Mottley in a general election.So far,he does not appear to know where he is running and I doubt he will win wherever he goes,in my view.Talking tough will not cut it,has to bring policies.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    https://videos.files.wordpress.com/iTyPb5Yx/aeb98c12-f0e0-447e-865c-56b3460d767c-1.mp4

  7. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    This ill-fated attempt at political satire is not humorous. Does not exaggerate. Is not critical.

    And instead of ridiculing is ridiculous.

    By a party which gave us an historic and failed garbage project in Saint Andrew decades ago.

    Even as garbage remains a serious business and problem for a country barely able to buy and maintain garbage trucks.

    And this shiiite is intended to be funny!

  8. John2 Avatar
    John2

    RAT = nightwatchman #3. Too much political baggage

  9. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFQ4qWoyFyp/

  10. UK Bajan Avatar
    UK Bajan

    We are on target for 72 murders this year and 120 murders by 2030 persons are angry and highly stressed thus more conflicts fueled by hopelessness is expected. In addition, the high usage of marijuana usage among youth has so altered their perception that they are completely fucked up. One told me recently even doctors, lawyers and the big shots smoke it as gods created the plant.
    When politicians can thief with impunity for their friends, family and yardfowls what do you expect other than a lawless country. Elections will be later this year as the maggots seek another mandate to facilitate some harsh measures on the fiscal side to curtail high consumption and reduce parastatals as well as their budgets.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    Violent crime is on the rise regionally. Do not forget the HOGs has declared crime a public health crisis. With a majority of governments committed to CSME their problems will become ours.

    We appear to be helpless as far as strategizing goes about crime prevention.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    Low voter turnout ‘signals room for third party’

    The newly-formed Conservative Barbados Leadership Party highlighted low voter turnout in the last General Election as evidence that Barbados is ready for a viable third political option.

    Speaking at a press conference in Strathclyde, St Michael, vice-president of the party, Anthony Hinds, said the declining engagement with the ballot box reflected dissatisfaction with the two major political parties – the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

    “In the last election, turnout was [very low]. That means [a high percentage] of this country said no – not to one party, but to both.”

    Hinds noted that the same trend was evident in the 2018 General Election, suggesting a growing sentiment among voters for alternative leadership. The 2022 General Election saw 44 per cent of registered voters going to the polls.

    Vision

    Hinds was joined at the press conference by other members of the party’s leadership team: Corey Beckles, president; Alan Springer, assistant vice-president; Shannon Gonsalves, general secretary and Elvis Corbin, assistant general secretary. The team used the occasion to introduce their party’s vision and objectives to the public and to outline plans for the upcoming months.

    The party is actively recruiting candidates and has received numerous applications from individuals interested in joining it, Hinds said.

    “We’ve received a significant number of CVs and calls from people eager to be part of this movement. Some of these individuals are wellknown and their involvement would surprise many,” Hinds said.

    The party plans to announce its full slate of candidates by March this year.

    Hinds identified several pressing issues that the party intended to prioritise, including domestic violence, health care reform and improvements to the criminal justice system.

    “Barbados has reached a stage where it’s not just about labour issues anymore. We need structural improvements across multiple sectors to address the challenges facing this country.”

    The party leader also spoke about the importance of transparency and accountability in governance. He proposed introducing parliamentary question and answer sessions to ensure parliamentarians address citizens’ concerns directly.

    “We are not just here to make laws, we are here to provide answers in a way that everyone can understand,” Hinds said.

    In his remarks, he also emphasised the importance of engaging young Barbadians in governance and leadership. He said the party was committed to creating opportunities for young people to participate in politics and policy-making.

    “Young people need to see leaders they can look up to. Many young Bajans excel in governance abroad and we should encourage similar participation here at home.”

    The leadership team also addressed what they deemed as the growing disillusionment with traditional politics. Hinds said the current political environment, marked by apathy and dissatisfaction, presented a unique opportunity for the Conservative Barbados Leadership Party to position itself as a credible alternative.

    (CLM)

    Source: Nation

  13. David Avatar
    David

    Little regard for third parties

    By Antoinette Connell antoinetteconnell@nationnews.com

    In 2018, under the rule of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), there emerged a slew of political parties and candidates mounting a challenge to the organisation whose leader, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, held out to the very end before announcing elections.

    Many budding politicians along with the seasoned ones sensed Barbados’ utter displeasure with the ruling party and capitalised on any and all of the DLP’s manifested weaknesses. The perception of the DLP was so dismal that from the sex worker to the civil engineer imagined that they could do much better and so began the tossing of hats into the election ring.

    As the election reached its final days seven years ago – alongside the two established institutions, the DLP and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) – was the emergence of at least seven parties.

    From that crowded electoral field, the voters had the choice of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Solutions Barbados, Barbados Integrity Movement, Bajan Free Party, People’s Democratic Congress, Kingdom Government of Barbados and the Progressive Conservative Party and some independents. The UPP had merged in 2017 with the barely existing Citizens Action Partnership, founded by former Member of Parliament Wendell Callender.

    Back then, analyst and pollster Peter Wickham dismissed the new parties after saying “there are now more third parties or new parties than there have been before”.

    He attributed their appearance to the rise of social media and the belief that there was an opportunity for exploitation.

    Neither the new parties nor the independents made any impact and the BLP swept all 30 constituencies twice – 2018 and 2022.

    Several years on, Wickham still believes that Barbadians have little regard for third parties and he fears the just launched Conservative Barbados Loyalist Party (CBLP) will suffer a similar fate of all the others.

    “I understand why it is happening as there is clearly a level of dissatisfaction that people have with the idea of the DLP as the alternative and I think that there is a feeling amongst some people

    Bishop Joseph Atherley went on to become Leader of the Opposition and then formed the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP).

    (FP)

    Pollster and political scientist Peter Wickham.

    (FP)

    that it is not the right alternative. They (DLP members) are not behaving well and there is the feeling that you can marshal that effort in there.

    “What is worse, is that these new parties are only entrenching the BLP more and more. So for people who feel that democracy is being served by all of these alternative parties, the reality is that they are not helping,” he observed.

    He also said the BLP had not fallen that far out of favour with the populace as to create the conditions that led to the 2018 explosion of what could be cautiously described as political parties. However, it was noted that the appearance of CBLP had ignited discussion on third parties.

    “This third party conversation is one that we’ve had so many times and I have little interest in third parties because Barbadians have not taken them seriously over the years, the only third party they have ever taken seriously is the National Democratic Party (NDP) and even that had its lifespan,” said Wickham.

    Three defectors

    The NDP, led by then Dr Richie Haynes (later Sir Richard) the holder of the St Michael South Central seat, was established in 1989 as a result of a fallout within the DLP. Haynes formed the party with three other defectors and immediately became the official Opposition, ousting the three-member BLP parliamentary group.

    It failed to capture any seats in the 1991 elections and Haynes regained his seat in the 1994 elections but the party eventually faded and did not feature in further polling events.

    This third party, Wickham said will achieve even less.

    “It reminds me of the Kingdom Government party because it has a similar perspective and none of them was able to save their deposits. There’s not a lot to be said. I wouldn’t take it too seriously because the people of Barbados do not take third parties seriously.”

    Like Haynes, Bishop Joseph Atherley defected from the ruling party and went on to become Leader of the Opposition just a week after the BLP’s clean sweep of 2018. His choice of the experienced Caswell Franklyn and the youthful but sound economist Crystal Drakes for the Senate proved worthwhile and a year later he formed the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP).

    New party

    However, by time of the election of 2022, the PdP merged with the UPP to form the Alliance Party for Progress.

    It failed win a seat and like the other third parties, receded into the background, though Atherley’s voice, as a former Opposition Leader is still sought on issues and Drakes was re-appointed to the Senate as an Independent.

    The failing of NDP and the UPP, both of which had sitting members at some stage, gives weight to Wickham and other political scientists’ views on third parties survival rate in Barbados.

    Against that background, Wickham stated: “What would serve democracy is if the DLP got its act together and started behaving like a party that is serious about getting back into office and creating a balance.”

    zoom-in

    FLASHBACK: DR RICHIE HAYNES

    (second right), flanked by colleagues (from left) Edgar Bourne, Peter Miller and Richard Byer announcing the aims of the National Democratic Party. (FP)

    Source: Nation

  14. David Avatar
    David

    15 DLP BIOs

    Last week the Democratic Labour Party showed signs of settling after a series of public spats. At a press conference, they named 15 of their 30 candidates for the next General Election, making the announcement on the birthday of their founder, Errol Barrow.

    Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne disclosed that those selected thus far went through a rigorous vetting process, promising that the full slate of candidates will be revealed after the same process is complete.

    Below are the names and bios of the candidates who will be contesting the election on the party’s ticket.

    Amoy Gilding-Bourne Christ Church East Incumbent: Wilfred Abrahams Amoy Gilding-Bourne is a lawyer who attended the Ursuline Convent, Barbados Community College and the University of the West Indies (UWI). She holds a bachelor of laws, a bachelor of arts in philosophy, and associate degrees in applied arts and legal studies. She is an assistant scout leader with the Barbados Boys Scouts Association and is involved with the Parish Land Football Club and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Amoy is a registered farmer and received the Barbados Humanitarian Award in 2022.

    Andrew Cave Christ Church West Incumbent: William Duguid Andrew Cave has worked as a financial advisor for 16 years and qualified for the Million Dollar Roundtable in 2009. He is an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker and a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course. Cave is also studying Mandarin. He came up against now Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne for the Christ Church South constituency in the 2022 General Election. Thorne at the time was a member of the Barbados Labour Party before crossing the floor in 2023.

    Senator Andre Worrell St Michael Central Incumbent: Arthur Holder Senator Andre Worrell, a graduate in psychology of the University of the West Indies, has served in several roles within the DLP, including president of the Young Democrats, assistant secretary, vice-president and now president of the party. He attended The Lodge School, where he served as head boy.

    Senator Ryan Walters St Michael North West Incumbent: Neil Rowe.

    Senator Ryan Walters holds an MBA and is the general manager of Restaurant Associates Barbados Limited. He has worked in finance since 2002 and contested the 2022 General Election in St Michael North West. He has been active in addressing business, entrepreneurship and health issues.

    Pedro Shepherd St Michael South East Incumbent: Santia Bradshaw Pedro Shepherd is a trained primary school teacher with nearly 40 years of experience. He joined the DLP in 1989 and has held various roles, including president of the Young Democrats and general secretary of the party. He contested the 2022 General Election in St Michael South East.

    Dr Rolerick Hinds St Thomas Incumbent: Cynthia Forde Dr Rolerick Hinds, a general practitioner for 25 years, has been active in community work. He is a graduate of The Lodge School and is focused on serving St Thomas.

    Richard Sealy St Michael South Central Incumbent: Marsha Caddle Richard Sealy is a civil engineer and a graduate of the University of Florida and UWI. He previously served as the MP for St Michael South Central for 15 years and held the tourism portfolio. He held the St Michael South Central seat since 2003, before losing to Marsha Caddle in 2018.

    Nathaniel Wesley Boyce St Michael South Incumbent: Kirk Humphrey Nathaniel Wesley Boyce is a teacher at Luther Thorne Primary School with a degree in public sector management from UWI. He has 16 years of teaching experience and focuses on governance and leadership.

    Amoy Gilding-Bourne

    (JJS)

    Andrew Cave

    (GP)

    Senator Ryan Walters (JJS)

    Pedro Shepherd

    (JJS)

    Richard Sealy

    (GP)

    Andre Worrell

    (GP)

    Dr Rolerick Hinds

    (JJS)

    Nathaniel Boyce

    (GP)

    From Page 20A.

    Randall Rouse St Joseph Incumbent: Dale Marshall Randall Rouse has qualifications in small business management and electrical installation, among others. He has lived in St Joseph since 1985 and has been involved in community groups and local cricket teams for over 35 years. He has contested this seat on several occasions.

    Shaquani Hunte St Michael West Incumbent: Chris Gibbs.

    Shaquani Hunte is a business executive and former president of the Young Democrats.

    She has held various leadership roles within the DLP, including secretary of the Women’s League and fourth vice-president.

    Dale Rowe City of Bridgetown Incumbent: Corey Lane.

    Dale Rowe, a graduate of the Barbados Youth Service and Florida Atlantic University, works in hospitality management and as a financial advisor. He has established a non-profit organisation focused on community development.

    Alvin Toppin St Lucy Incumbent: Peter Phillips Alvin Toppin is an insurance advisor and a graduate of UWI with a postgraduate diploma from Brunel University. He has experience in the insurance, media and entertainment sectors and qualified for the Million Dollar Roundtable in 2023 and 2024.

    Neil Marshall St Philip South Incumbent: Indar Weir.

    Neil Marshall is a lawyer with degrees in political science, international politics, and law. He is a graduate of Coleridge & Parry, UWI, and the University of Manchester. He advocates for sustainable development in St Philip South and already contested and lost the seat against Indar Weir.

    Dr David Estwick St Philip West Incumbent: Kay McConney Dr David Estwick, a former MP for St Philip West, served in several ministerial roles, including health, national insurance, and social security. He entered politics in 1999 and represented the constituency from 2003 to 2018.

    Dr Dawn-Marie Armstrong St Michael North Incumbent: Davidson Ishmael Dr Dawn-Marie Armstrong is a psychologist with experience in high-performance sports settings in the UK. She is a former national cricketer and contested the 2022 General Election. She also contested the St George South constituency in the 2018 General Election.

    Rouse Randall

    (JJS)

    Shaquani Hunte

    (GP)

    Toppin Alvin

    (JJS)

    Marshall Neil

    (GP)

    Dr Armstrong

    Dawn-Marie

    (GP)

    Rowe Dale

    (JJS)

    Estwick Dr David

    (GP)

    Source: Nation

  15. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Pacha
    Agreed that Donavan’s rant is embarrassingly silly, petty and unfunny. Less is not to be expected – given his history. He should stay with meking sport.

    @ David
    “We appear to be helpless as far as strategizing goes about crime prevention.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    How does a set of leaders who have been COMPLETELY UNABLE to respond to publicly aired accusations of criminality, ‘strategies about crime prevention’?

    Just take a look back at YOUR BU archives relating to land transactions, government contracts, bribe taking, consorting with criminals, and even proof of basic qualifications…
    Boss…
    In order to produce a CLEAN pot of food, the cooks must start out with clean hands.

    This has become a universal CURSE.
    Some Global COMMON evil entity in high places, has OBVIOUSLY been able to deploy this tactic so successfully, that we ARE INDEED helpless…

    This is of course because the REAL PROBLEM (battle) is not with the people themselves, (flesh and blood) but is between SPIRITUAL FORCES IN HIGH PLACES.

    If therefore, you are hoping that some little shiite Bajan brass bowls will be able to ‘strategize’ our ‘flesh and blood’ way out of this mess – GOOD LUCK with dat!!

    Bushie done know which side of the battle to join….

  16. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Steupsss..
    Any CEO worth his salt would throw ALL those CV in the garbage – if they were submitted for senior positions in his business.
    All are just a set of shiite words – that could EASILY be composed for a typical Parro on Hastings Beach.

    What have these people ACTUALLY been able to achieve SUCCESSFULLY in their lives so far, that would suggest to us, that they are COMPETENT and CAPABLE to deal with the complex problems such as crime, debt, lawlessness and LACK of productivity that has become endemic?

    We all know about the shiite hound (formally a pit bull) and his experience with Andrews Factory. So Bushie did not even bother to read his…
    The Lashes lawyer’s CV was similarly disposed of… we know of his ability with Transport and the commercialization of ZR licenses.
    “..lawyer with degrees in political science, international politics, and law.” sounds too much like a joke to Bushie – given the history of shiite lawyers and political scientists [a step DOWN from ‘economists’ (whatevertheHell THOSE are…)] like Petra.

    This thing is CLEARLY a joke…
    And if the BLP jokers were to provide THEIR (serious) CV’s we would see CLEARLY why we are going off a damn cliff…probably even worse…
    Wunna realize yet that these people have NO IDEA of reading financial statements…?!!
    Almost all of them think that ‘financial health’ is measured by your Bank balance…

    So the FOREX level is used to guide their splurging, wastefulness, inefficiencies and largesse.
    Any idiot knows that you can go and borrow money from a Credit Union and deposit in your Savings Account, and then brag about a ‘healthy’ savings balance…
    YET, this is how we roll…

    By SIMPLY requiring ALL candidates to provide a COMPLETED JOB application to serve, and by having that scrutinized by an independent body (perhaps comprised of various National NGO institutions), …AND PUBLISHING THEIR FINDINGS… we would have taken the first step towards better National LEADERSHIP.

    …then again, this is one of BU’s OLD ten-point -plan proposals… ain’t it?

    What a place!!

  17. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Who was that said a people get the government it deserves?

  18. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Solutions Barbados could not win because Grenville was not ready for the world. Simple solutions to simple problems he may sometimes have. But his ideological framework is sadly lacking.

    If our parties were serious about efficiency, they would have utilised Grenville for what he has to offer. But I suspect that grifting would have been in jeopardy, sooooo….

  19. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “Solutions Barbados could not win because Grenville was not ready for the world.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    While The B/DLP showed themselves to be ‘ready’ by COMPLETELY IGNORING ANY type of ‘solutions-based’ narrative – and concentrated on a range shiite promises designed to be comforting…????
    “Watch muh!!” “…many hands (in the cookie jar) make shiite work”…
    WTH!!

    Bushie would FAR MORE support an applicant who understood the NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS – even if they themselves had none, than some clowns who go around making fairytale promises, and who don’t even KNOW of the concept of problem solving.

    Perhaps Grenville’s ‘problem’ was (and continues to be -) his thinking that ‘real leaders should stand up…’

    What for? …to be buried in the stuff that fills the lotta brass bowls ’bout brassbados?
    Steupsss..

    As you said @David
    We get EXACTLY what we deserve.

  20. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Our political system is ‘complicated’. It is not enough for a candidate to be qualified academically, there is the political drama that drives it, that a majority of educated voters expect.

  21. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Who said anything about ‘academic’ qualifications Boss?

    Qualified to successfully execute the leadership roles required…. by getting positive results…is the goal outlined.

    And if ‘the majority of educated (eddykated?) voters are getting what they expect politically’ – then there is no problem ..is there..?
    LOL
    Except that NOTHING WORKS…
    but never mind, cause our political expectations are met..
    ha ha ha

  22. David Avatar
    David

    Lashley declines

    Michael Lashley, the former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Philip North, has declined an invitation to speak at an upcoming branch meeting in the constituency.

    Tongues have been wagging since Lashley’s name was not among the recently announced DLP slate of candidates to contest the next general election.

    He was pictured on an official DLP flyer announcing a St Philip North branch meeting on Sunday, at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Ruby, St Philip.

    Under the theme Honest Voices For The People, Lashley was to appear with four other speakers including former minister, Donville Inniss and Simon Clarke, his cousin, who is said to be a potential candidate for the constituency.

    However, Lashley submitted a letter addressed to the “Chairman” of DLP, and to the branch indicating that he was unavailable to speak.

    Senator Andre Worrell is acting President of the DLP.

    Unavailable

    The letter stated: “I am writing to formally inform you that, unfortunately, I will be unavailable to speak at the St Philip North Branch meeting scheduled for February 9, 2025.

    “I sincerely appreciate the invitation and the opportunity to contribute to the discussions, but due to prior commitments, I am unable to attend. I regret any inconvenience this may cause and extend my best wishes for a successful and productive meeting. Thank you for your understanding.”

    When contacted yesterday, Lashley, a King’s Counsel, tersely said: “I will not be available for any meeting.”

    The Weekend Nation was unable to reach management of the DLP.

    Lashley won the St Philip North seat in 2003, 2008 and 2013, and was the best performing candidate in the last election garnering more than 2 000 votes. However, in recent times, he has been notably absent from major DLP events and has not spoken on any matters pertaining to the party. (MB)

    Source: Nation

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