The Assistant General Secretary of the recently ousted Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has promised that the party will rise again after falling victim to the most humiliating of electoral defeats on May 24.
Andre Worrell, who is also a former DLP Senator, was delivering first weekly lecture at the party’s George Street headquarters following the party’s 30-nil trouncing by the Mia Mottley-led Barbados Labour Party (BLP).
Since then, the BLP has suffered one defection with Bishop Joe Atherley crossing over to the Opposition benches of Parliament.
However, speaking on the topic, Transforming the Democratic Labour Party – The New Dawn, Worrell urged party supporters not to be daunted, despite the humiliating loss.
“Do not be daunted by people and think that we will not return to office or that is may take longer for us to return to office,” the assistant general secretary said, adding that “as long as we do what is necessary in terms of changing the way how this organization operates, how our members behave, how our leaders function, how our branches are organized . . . if we do what is necessary to make those changes impactful and appealing to the electorate, the Democratic Labour Party will return”.
Following the shocking defeat in which all 16 of its incumbents, including Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler lost their seats two weeks ago, Worrell said that the DLP was in the process of strategizing and analyzing how the political party, which was founded by the Father of Independence Errol Barrow, could improve.
He contended that transformational change was necessary at every level, from the grassroots to senior leadership, while maintaining that the DLP must stay true to its core philosophy.
However, he conceded that it had failed to effectively communicate and understand the wants of its electorate while arguing that change could not occur without organizational amendments.
“We were defeated at the polls 30-0. At this stage we no longer have a seat in the House of Assembly, we don’t have senators in the Parliament so anyone who can say that change is not necessary for the Democratic Labour Party has possibly lost touch with the reality of the 24th of May,” Worrell added.
However, he refuted claims that a new crop of DLP candidates was needed to invigorate the changes needed, saying “we had very good candidates in the field and . . . many of them still have worthwhile contributions to make not only to the Democratic Labour Party, but to the country as well”.
Worrell therefore called on DLP faithful to change their mindsets and to embrace change as well as for cohesion among party officials and supporters, while warning that discord and the tendency to “sweep issues under the carpet” would lead to their downfall.
“We must start thinking in the interest of the party and the bigger picture . . . . We will have to leave petty squabbles at the door when we are coming to deal with serious party business,” Worrell insisted.
“I am not saying you must hide things and sweep it under the garment. That is something that this party does well and something that we probably need to stop because those things we sweep under the carpet, they often come back,” he said, while stating that the metaphorical dust was causing sinus issues within the ranks of the party.
Worrell stressed that if the party failed to evolve it would become non-existent in Barbados’ political landscape.
It was the voodoo that topple wunna doan worry when that spell is broken you will rise from the ashes
DLP was Decimated already to two men in a tub
Kellman and Thompson and rose again
BLP was Decimated to three Blind Mice and rose again
DLP will rise stronger once some of the Old heads take leave
The Elected members of the DLP in the House of Assembly of 2013, told the Barbadian public untruths (lies) about how Mr Barrow saw free education in Barbados. These elected members had set the policy to roll back many of the policies of it’s founders. Iam hoping never to see any of that elected group as a candidate in a election in Barbados again.
you need to get rid of some of the old guard. Get a proper campaign manager. not one who strategies is to open the campaign by cussing women. does days of hogwash politics are gone. Bajans want to here your plans. the personal life of persons ate not important to us. bring the facts on the economy. hope you learn from your mistakes and tell the populist the truth upfront
There’s nothing like humility, Mr Worrell unlike Bobby Morris, Byer-Suckoo and Sandiford-garner have swolled the bitter pill of total humiliation and defeat and had have given a true synopsis of where the party should go for recovery, Mr. Worrell you are right in your recommendation for cleansing, the old school must go to begin the purge.
worrell !! when yuh at rock bottom..there is only option..that is to rise..
the question is …when!!
IF we do this and IF we do that and a lotta HOGWASH…forgetting that IF SH8 had wings SH8 would have touched down on the MOON on the morning of the 25th MAY.
with FUMBLE in the cockPIT and the others in the cabin.
PM MIA should amend the CONSTITUTION or add another clause which says NO OPPOSITION PARTY should obtain the reins of Government unless they serve at least 5 years and 90 days ON THE OPPOSITION BENCHES PREVIOUSLY….that would FURTHER ELIMINATE that DAMN LYING PARTY for 10 years to start…UNTIL THEY TELL THE MASSES the TRUTH.
Furthermore a PROVISIONAL CLAUSE should also be added.stating…” provided they ALL attend TRUTH CLASSES” before the 5 year period is up if not they would have do it in that 90 day period.
I don’t remember a time when a Barbados Labout Party administration has ever had to rebuild this country’s economy. Former BLP teams have always ridden the growing tides of further development left behind by the Democratic Labour Party when any general elections change came.
From this year on, we shall see how skillful a BLP Administration is at shaping this country’s future. I am not holding my breath.
Wunna in only fail to communicate talk about the millions wunna steal from the tax payers of Barbados and got on wunna foreign accounts. Wunna got about 20 years out in de wilderness.
In a competition loss and win are in the equation. Parties win and lose. All this talk will or will not prevent the DLP from regrouping and either winning in 2023 or losing.
Use your energies and solution suggesting for the economic battle ahead
Johnny Crow are you a mad man?Were you in Barbados in 1994,when mr Arthur took a Goernment with nearly 25% unemployment and transform the country.I always say you Dems are strangers to the Truth,like you believe you are speaking to 10 year olds,with short memories.Even in this last Elections some of your members were saying the Country turning the corner,which corner was that johnny Crow?Only for us to hear from Ms motley that the country at rock bottom according to the IMF report which the Dems attempted to keep hidden,until after the Election,for obvious reasons.Johnny Crow remember this the truth shall set you free.
If Solutions Barbados would stay its ground, the DLP would never ever see the inside of Parliament ever again.
Who in their right mind would want to ever see Stuart or his politicians name on a ballot again? There is nothing that they can say or do for the voters to forget the 10 years and that 90 days that Stupid Stuart took for their own uses. As time goes by the losers could go to George Street and tell the people why they were humiliated with people like the Trini as speaker,the yard fowls to spew their sewage and Maureen as moderator. The constituency houses should be given to those in need.
Which LORENZO are you today, the she male ShelkH ..Sheila?
You are so confused you don’t know your head from your tail. I wish some kind individual would invited you over for some dumpling soup Lorenzo/Shelkh/Sheila. Big dumplings though, real big dumplings to block the hole.
Johnny Crow you crowing the facts are to much for you to dispute with your alternative facts.Poor fellow the gutter talk good for lowlife Dems like you and the George Street crew.By the way are you George,Stephen or donville?However Dem you are no less than 15 years in the wilderness,unless the dems get rid of deadweight like the past Mp,s and followers like CCC,Sticks and Stones,Ras,big Child ,Patty and you.
It doesn’t matter where the dlp will be in 5or 10 years….it is where will Barbados be that matters
Andre Worrell said the ‘Ds’ were D`feated, D`mised D`molished, D`sposed, D`sected, D`ad, but they will be back, with new wine in what Stuart said of the young Union leader and Maureen doing the falsetting.
Co operation is needed from all citizens to aid in our recovery. All hands, includingDLP hands, on deck Put Barbados first then party. Have you learnt nothing? Our present position is due partly to attempted DLP self preservation which failed miserably.
Johnny Crow or “Johnny’ or “Mrs Crow” as you are better known as in the LBGT community. According to you, Lorenzo is anatomically confused as he don’t know his head from his tail, but you are gender confuse as your head is always in a man’s tail and a tail is always on your head, ok.
Yes it is a given that this dlp party will rise again .but if any of the same guard is chosen it will take at least 25 years for the people to forget all the wrong you have done,and it will be extremely difficult for the electorate to trust any of you again,get some new blood and new ideas
The DLP will eventually rise again but not with any of the personalities that brought this country to its knees. No way we want to see them ever again!!
The extra 90 day by your BOSS along with the TAX plus TAX plus TAX was the writing on the wall.
“THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS”.
Now that you all are not in a position to do anything after falling, it’s up to you all of how you are getting up.
With out a complete house cleaning, your direction will still be flaw.
@Mark My Word; you said that the DLP would rise again because the had Kellman and Thompson and the BLP had 3 blind mice some time ago and they too rose again so this is telling me that they still had some life in them but rigor mortis has set in this DLP so they are dead and should be buried.