Friends of Democracy aims to fill opposition gap, rejects coalition

The Friends of Democracy party has entered the 2026 general election race pledging to restore balance and accountability to the political landscape, arguing that seven years of one-party dominance have weakened democratic oversight.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY just days after Prime Minister Mia Mottley set a February 11 poll date, FOD President Karina Goodridge said that while the party is still young, its campaign message would be direct and focused on accountability.

She also rejected the notion of joining a coalition or alliance to challenge the Barbados Labour Party as it seeks a third term in office, even as she claimed that the country has suffered from a lack of accountability since Labour’s landslide victory in 2018.

“Barbadians can expect a very clear and honest message from Friends of Democracy. Our country needs a strong opposition now more than ever,” she said.

Goodridge argued that the absence of meaningful parliamentary opposition since the Barbados Labour Party’s 30–0 victory in 2018, followed by a similar triumph in 2022, has weakened democratic oversight.

As the party prepares to take its message across the island, Goodridge said FOD would be positioning itself as a credible alternative focused on governance rather than political theatrics.

“We will be saying one simple thing: give Friends of Democracy the mandate to become the leading opposition and to keep the Bees in check,” she said. “Not with noise or hatred, but with facts, solutions, and people-first policies.”

She added that the party aims to offer representatives who would “show up, question every dollar spent, defend ordinary families, and put community before party”, stressing that the upcoming election is about more than choosing a government.

“It is about restoring balance, protecting democracy, and giving citizens a real voice again,” Goodridge said.

The FOD leader pointed to what she described as a lack of transparency and accountability and criticised the way legislation has been handled in Parliament, arguing that insufficient consultation undermines public trust.

“Major bills are being rushed through Parliament without real consultation…” she said.

Goodridge added that if FOD becomes the leading opposition, the party would commit to “opening the books, demanding full disclosure on every major project, and ensuring no government can spend public money or change citizens’ rights without facing the people first.”

Asked whether FOD would consider joining an alliance or agreement with other political parties, Goodridge said that while she supports anyone willing to serve the country, coalition politics is not something her party is pursuing at this time.

“Our mission is built on conviction, not convenience,” she said. “We only learned about the coalition after the election was called, and our focus remains on moving forward independently.”

She added: “We will work with anyone where it benefits Barbados, but we will not enter [into] any agreement that dilutes our values or confuses voters. Our loyalty is to citizens first, and to building a genuine alternative for this country.”

On Monday, three political parties – the United Progressive Party (UPP), the New National Party (NNP), and the Conservative Barbados Leadership Party – announced they would contest the general election under the banner of the People’s Coalition for Progress (PCP).