St Michael Central hopefuls blessed as election draws near

Three political candidates contesting St Michael Central pledged their commitment to the constituency as they sought blessings at the Better Life Assembly Christ Union Church on Sunday.

 

Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate Tyra Trotman, Friends of Democracy (FOD) candidate Raymond Wiggins, and Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate Andre Worrell, along with members of their respective teams, worshipped with the Hindsbury, St Michael congregation. 

 

They received prayers from Bishop Joseph Atherley and Reverend Erskine Branch and were each given an opportunity to address the church.

 

Trotman highlighted the BLP’s manifesto commitment of $5 million for faith-based organisations.

 

“The manifesto says that this government is going to give you $5 million to faith-based institutions, $5 million to do the work that God wants you to do, so that is the government that is also putting God first,” she said.

 

She also encouraged young people to reconnect with God as a moral compass, sharing her personal testimony of hardship and redemption.

 

“I want to be an example for them, not because I’m a Mary Poppins or because I’m a saint, but because I am a sinner, a woman who once walked a very dark path. Somehow, I made it out, I found the light at the end of the tunnel, and I can show them that I was never too dirty for God. God is using me and he can use you too,” Trotman told the congregation.

 

Wiggins, meanwhile, identified youth and elderly care as his primary priorities, which he said are central to his party’s vision.

 

“If anyone has heard me on the podium speaking recently, you will hear me talk about the plans we have for the youth. We need to steer them away from crime. We are losing too many of our young people, some to jail, some to death, some to mental health issues,” Wiggins said.

 

He highlighted the need for early intervention to address learning and mental health challenges among children.

 

“We’re talking about testing children very early in primary schools for things like dyslexia, ADHD, whatever it may be, so we can help those who are falling through the cracks and keep them out of prisons and funeral homes,” he added.

 

Wiggins also called for vocational pathways to be introduced earlier in the education system, suggesting that students be channelled into skills training programmes, including the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute (SJPI), while still in fourth and fifth form.

 

“Part of their curriculum has to be reform. We want to channel them as part of the school system so they’re learning skills they can grow into,” he said.

 

Addressing elderly care, Wiggins pointed to underutilised community centres across the island.

 

“We know a lot of elderly people are neglected. Many have nowhere to go, and we have community centres just sitting there doing nothing. We need to retool these spaces so the elderly, the youth and others can come together,” he said.

 

DLP candidate Andre Worrell expressed hope that churches would partner with elected representatives in youth development programmes, particularly in sports and employment, while allowing the elderly to play a greater mentoring role.

 

“I’m hoping that you will open your doors to programmes we bring for development in the constituency. Our children need development, not only academically, but in sports and careers, and our elderly need to be there to guide our young people,” Worrell said.

 

He called for stronger collaboration between churches, residents and political representatives.

 

“Many people feel their representatives don’t look out for them or for the needs of the community, but I’m in this because I care. I recognise that we can do better, that together we can achieve more, and I’m in this because of God,” Worrell said.

 

In his message, Bishop Joseph Atherley urged those present to reflect on their hopes and aspirations and to seek God’s guidance in pursuing them.

 

“Don’t stand in a limited, confined space. Believe for bigger and for better, but believe in God that it will come to pass on God’s terms,” he said.