Roads, youth jobs, safety top election concerns as St Joseph, St Thomas candidates nominated  

Improving road conditions, creating jobs for young people and making communities safer emerged as dominant campaign themes on Tuesday, as candidates for St Joseph and St Thomas formally entered the general election race during Nomination Day proceedings.

 

Long-time Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Joseph, Randal Rouse, completed his nomination process at St Joseph Primary School just after 10 a.m., flanked by dozens of party supporters clad in DLP colours.  

 

Rouse later told reporters he was encouraged by the level of backing he has been receiving across the constituency, describing it as unlike anything he had experienced in previous campaigns.  

 

“I’m very pleased with the support I’m getting within the constituency,” he said, adding that St Joseph needed a representative willing to actively advocate on its behalf, particularly in relation to infrastructure and employment.  

 

Underemployment among young men was a major concern, Rouse said, adding that the state of roads and bridges in the parish had long become unbearable for residents.  

 

“I will be lobbying to make certain that the roadworks and the bridges are properly maintained. Preventive maintenance is a must,” he said, arguing that years of neglect and a lack of advocacy had contributed to the deteriorating infrastructure.  

 

“The reason why the roadworks in St Joseph are the way they are is because there has never been any preventive maintenance and no lobby from our parliamentary representative.”

 

Having contested the seat several times before, Rouse expressed optimism about his chances this time around.  

 

“I am very hopeful that this is my time. I’m getting the type of support that I’ve never gotten before,” he said, adding that he was committed to giving the constituency “my best shot, with a successful ending.”  

 

Later in the morning, Ryan Brathwaite, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for St Joseph, also drew strong support as he made his way into the nomination centre shortly after 11 am, describing the occasion as both humbling and energising.  

 

“It’s an overwhelming feeling,” Brathwaite said. “The support of my family, friends and constituents is humbling. It’s official, and we’re ready to go.”  

 

He paid tribute to his mother, who stood by his side during the proceedings, noting her long-standing support throughout his life.  

 

“She’s always been there by my side, and she will continue to be by my side even as I ascend the steps of Parliament,” he said.  

 

Brathwaite added that his campaign machinery had been steadily preparing for the upcoming election.  

 

“We’ve been oiling our election machinery and will continue to do so over the next couple of days,” he said. “It’s about putting into practice the hard work we’ve been doing over the last 18 months and making sure that St Joseph remains red.”  

 

Later in the day, DLP candidate for St Thomas, Dr Rolerick Hinds, also completed his nomination process and outlined several issues he intends to address if elected.  

 

The main area of focus, he said, was the poor condition of roads, which he argued was driving up transport costs for residents.  

 

“It’s destroying cars and increasing expenses,” Dr Hinds said, noting that some residents were now spending between $200 and $300 a week on fuel due to limited access routes into areas such as Rock Hall.  

 

He also raised concerns about inadequate street lighting, saying large sections of the parish were dangerously dark at night.  

 

“There are parts of St Thomas with no lighting at all, and it endangers people trying to get from point A to point B,” he said.  

 

Dr Hinds further pointed to a lack of opportunities for young people, noting the absence of community centres and social spaces.  

 

“Youngsters complain that there’s nothing happening for them,” he said. “There’s no actual place where they can go and socialise. We plan to bring life back to this fruitful constituency once I’m elected.”