Stuart on drug charge

General secretary of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Kemar Stuart is facing an illegal drug charge.

Stuart, recently elected to the post at the DLP’s annual conference, appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court last week for possession of a quantity of marijuana. He was represented by former DLP minister of housing Michael Lashley QC.

When Barbados TODAY contacted DLP president Verla De Peiza on the matter she made it clear that the party would not be leaving Stuart “out to dry”. Stuart is also president of the Young Democrats. Efforts to reach him tonight were unsuccessful. However, De Peiza referred to the development as unfortunate.

“He is a young man. He’s not the first neither will he be the last young person to encounter challenges with marijuana possession. The tone and content of the Throne Speech suggest in any event that the entire country’s focus is diverted from matters of this nature to the point where it is surprising that this is noteworthy for the media,” she told Barbados TODAY tonight.

De Peiza went on to assure the 25-year-old of her party’s support. She said: “Many families face similar situations. He is a member of the Democratic Labour Party family and has proven to be an asset to it. The only difference is that this is a political family and therefore political decisions will have to be made.”

Sources told this newspaper that members of the DLP’s council met tonight around 7 o’clock for just over two hours to discuss Stuart’s future as general secretary of the party. But no information regarding the decision made was forthcoming. “I cannot say yet. Respecting the man,” De Peiza responded when quizzed as to the young political hopeful’s future as the general secretary.

Stuart first came to national attention during the 2018 General Election, when on a Solutions Barbados ticket, he ran against the new Prime Minister Mia Mottley in the St Michael North East riding.

He officially joined the membership of the Dems in late 2018. (KC)