Ex-DLP president slams forfeiture letters sent to stalwarts

ormer Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Dr Ronnie Yearwood has blasted the party’s leadership for a “silly and unfounded” move to sideline key members after former government minister Michael Lashley and member Walter Maloney were issued forfeiture letters citing breaches of the party’s constitution.

 

The letters, dated December 28, 2024, and citing Section 29 of the DLP’s constitution, claim that both men forfeited their seats on the Executive Council due to several consecutive absences from meetings without prior leave.

 

Dr Yearwood shared his belief that the action is indicative of a broader trend within the DLP to alienate members with youth, talent, and expertise, leaving the party weakened and out of touch.

 

“There is no grounds for it,” he said.

 

“You’re trying to remove, get rid of the youth, talent, and expertise of the party. What are you going to be left with at the top end of the party if you keep going this way?” Dr Yearwood questioned.

 

He further criticised the DLP for prioritising internal politics over meaningful community engagement.

 

He said: “Politics can’t be about titles and who sits on councils . . . councils that the average Barbadians care less about. It’s about community and it’s about people. It’s definitely not about sending unfounded letters to people over the Christmas period to kick them off councils, people who actually do work in their communities or are experts in their areas.”

 

Dr Yearwood also contrasted the DLP’s approach with his own focus on community projects, highlighting a recent Christmas party held in St John and other charitable efforts.

 

“There is an old saying—they will do until they undo,” he added, warning that the party’s actions could backfire.

 

Political observers have also weighed in on the issue, describing the forfeiture letters as part of ongoing infighting within the DLP.

 

Speaking to Barbados TODAY, political scientist Devaron Bruce labelled the decision a continuation of the party’s internal discord and a missed opportunity to unify ahead of upcoming elections.

 

“You would have hoped that given the turmoil that the party faced over the last year that you would begin to see olive branches being extended to individuals within the party, particularly the outstanding members like Lashley, one of the best-performing candidates since 2021,” Bruce said, adding that Lashley’s “rebranding and political capital in a favourable seat” make the decision perplexing.

 

Questioning the DLP’s broader objective, the political analyst said: “What is the strategy if you’re going to sideline and isolate one of your strongest members known publicly and within his constituency?

 

“It just seems as though the DLP is in an unrelenting mode that has no strategic end, and it’s either my way or the highway under Ralph Thorne. I don’t see that heading in a direction that would be successful electorally,” Bruce noted.

 

Political scientist Peter Wickham described the actions as unwise and further argued that the forfeiture letters reflect a deliberate strategy by the DLP’s leadership to sideline perceived dissenters.

 

“This is all part of an ongoing attempt of the DLP to sideline persons that don’t appear to be loyal to the new leadership,” he said. “So Lashley is one such person, and they are using the rules and regulations of the organisation to essentially push him to one side delicately.”

 

Further acknowledging Lashley’s political influence, Wickham said: “I think it’s highly unwise given the level of support he carries in St Philip North. Either he needs to be the candidate or support the candidate. This is not the way to go about getting that support.”

 

Sharing on Maloney’s forfeiture, he added: “I suspect that in taking down Lashley, he was one of the bricks that fell.”

Barbados TODAY reached out to DLP leader Ralph Thorne, Michael Lashley, and Walter Maloney for comment but none was immediately available up to the time of publication.

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb