Four-way showdown in Christ Church East Central

Christ Church East Central is shaping up to be one of the island’s most competitive constituencies, as four candidates vie for voter confidence in what remains one of the country’s key marginal seats. Barbados TODAY continues its journey around the island to gauge the election pulse — this time in Christ Church East Central.

Voters will have a wide slate of choices when they go to the polls on February 11, as candidates from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Friends of Democracy (FOD), and the People’s Coalition for Progress (PCP) contest the election. The coalition brings together the United Progressive Party (UPP), the New National Party (NNP), and the Conservative Barbados Labour Party (CBLP). This election also marks the debut of Reform Barbados, while several independent candidates are stepping forward to contest seats.

For the past 50 years, Christ Church East Central has often been regarded as a marginal seat. From 1986 to 2013, the DLP held the seat more often than the BLP, but since 2018, the BLP has maintained control.

The seat was first won by Harold Bernard St John of the BLP when the constituency was created. It has also been represented by MPs such as the DLP’s Robert Morris, the BLP’s Duncan Carter, and Ronald Jones, who served for 10 years before losing the seat to Ryan Straughn in 2018.

Now, nearly eight years later, residents say they want results rather than promises. Calls for community improvements and social development are growing.

Safety and infrastructure remain top concerns. An older resident, Melon, called for safer routes for children walking to school: “I would like to see we get a sidewalk all through Lodge Road, cause the little children passing there on the road and every minute they have to dodge out the road. I would like to see the little children get a sidewalk from the top of Broadside to Oistins Hill.”

A construction worker, Matthew, said the roads off the main highway need repair: “If we trying to better the place, it’s only the highway from the airport where the tourists pass the road is good. If they come down that bumpy road, the roads too bumpy, man.”

A female resident highlighted the need for speed control measures: “I don’t know if they can have speed humps for all the fast drivers.”

Samuel Brown, a father of four, said illness has prevented him from working full-time, but he still needs some form of income: “I don’t work nowhere, I’m a sick person so I can’t do no labour work like a landscaper.”

Peter Weekes, of Water Street, said water quality is a concern: “The water full of lime and when it full of lime it got a lot of white stuff in it.”

Residents also complained about poor garbage disposal and collection, which they said has led to a rodent problem in the area.

His neighbour added that poor street lighting is also an issue: “Place want more light, especially down through here. If somebody come through there you can see them when they coming through, but you can’t see them when they get here.”

Weekes also spoke about the needs of the elderly in the neighbourhood, referencing his next-door neighbour, Sylverton Hamblin, 65: “We don’t see he at all, at all. We gon only see he when he want a vote and that ain’t fair.”

Hamblin also raised concerns about a well next to his house and hopes for increased pension payments: “I only get $350 a month and my light bill is $250 and my water bill is $150.”

He relies on his sister for help with food on weekends.

BLP candidate Ryan Straughn admitted he needs a more visible presence in the constituency:

“People say they’ve seen the work that I’ve done, but they haven’t seen me. I really do look forward to the next term and being able to bring greater balance to the representation in that more, more communication, being present, physically.”

DLP candidate Quincy Jones also emphasised constant engagement with constituents: “I think that there’s a lot to be done in my constituency. Our representation must not be seasonal, but representation must be constant.”

FOD candidate Dominique Yorke highlighted the need for road repairs, debushing, and community development:

“I have noticed that there are a lot of bad roads in the area and the constituents have made complaints about them. I would be pushing towards getting that done, but I’ve noticed that there are a lot of green areas that need debushing. I also believe that community development needs pushing.”

PCP representative Natalie Parris focused on safety and youth programmes:

“We will establish neighbourhood safety partnerships, expand youth mentorship programmes, and ensure adequate lighting and infrastructure in vulnerable areas, as well as debushing, because that is another issue that has been occurring. Safety is a right, not a privilege.”

As the four-way battle for Christ Church East Central heats up, it is now up to the residents of these communities to decide who will represent them in Parliament.

The candidates

Barbados Labour Party (BLP) – Ryan Straughn
Won the St Michael South seat in 2018 against Ronald Jones of the DLP and again in 2022. He built a notable career in economics and finance and worked as an economist at the Central Bank of Barbados. Since entering Parliament, Straughn has served as Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) – Quincy Jones
A long-standing member of the party, whose father, Ronald Jones, was the former MP for the constituency, and a new political candidate for the party. He is the second vice president of the DLP and a well-known cultural practitioner and community advocate.

Friends of Democracy (FOD) – Dominique Yorke
A first-time candidate at the national level, she is the Shadow Minister for People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Disability and Mental Health Services. She is a community advocate and survivor whose lived experiences fuel her mission to uplift marginalised voices. Through non-profit work, conferences, and community engagement, she champions empowerment, inclusion, and violence-free communities across Barbados.

People’s Coalition for Progress (PCP) – Natalie Parris
A first-time national candidate who previously worked behind the scenes with the New National Party. She is a community advocate.