Heal the division first, Yearwood urged

Veteran politician Hamilton Lashley is hoping that newly-elected President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood is prepared to face the challenge of healing the division in the party head on.

Lashley, who said that the young versus old division that has interfered with the party’s internal affairs for many years may create a headache for Dr Yearwood. He suggested that the new leader formulate a workable plan to bring the members together, and put it into action as soon as possible.

He charged since Dr Yearwood’s victory, there has been underlying subliminal messages circulating among senior members of the party as it relates to “the older members” and the role they play.

“Of course you cannot and should not discriminate against a person in any organisation from reaching the pinnacle of their talents based upon this discriminatory process that currently exist within the walls of the Democratic Labour Party called age.

“He has to heal these wounds first that clearly exists. He is a relatively young man and he has first to conquer that. Until this divisiveness stop within the DLP, he of course has a long road to travel and a rough way to go,” Lashley said.

On May 1, the university lecturer was elected as the new president at the DLP’s Extraordinary Conference, held at the George Street, Belleville, St Michael headquarters. Dr Yearwood captured 273 votes compared to the 205 former government minister Dr David Estwick secured.

“My solution for Dr Yearwood would be one of fostering cohesiveness rather than divisiveness. It is one where each and every member should be treated equally and this great divide should be eliminated. But he has a difficult role. This threat that undermines the DLP must be healed and not a plaster put on it, then we will continue to have a divided party. He has his work cut out [for him],” Lashley said. (AH)