If the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is to experience its phoenix-like rise from the political ashes, following their 30-0 drubbing at the polls last May, the party must humble itself before the people of Barbados and openly acknowledge its mistakes.
This view was candidly stated by former member of the ousted Freundel Stuart-led Cabinet, Stephen Lashley, who made it clear that this path must be followed before Barbadians are again willing to listen to the messaging from a DLP platform.
“People want to hear the recognition that we were in a government for ten years and we were found wanting by the people of Barbados. We have to recognise that. We must not become so swell-headed that we are not big enough to accept the fact that there were things that the ball was dropped on and they were significant enough to cause people to rebel. I think in recognising this, we can start to build a platform that persons would listen to,” said Lashley, who delivered the DLP’s lunchtime lecture this afternoon.
In a further show of penitence, the former Minister of Youth Sports and Culture, acknowledged that the DLP administration was at times guilty of arrogance. He also expressed regret over the manner in which the party conducted the 2018 campaign, noting that it smacked of negativity and therefore urged the new party leadership to devise and publicise a code of conduct to govern future campaigns.
“One of the major things that young persons have said to me and that I also endorse, is that they want to see a DLP that understands and is recognised as being humble. We must show humility as opposed to arrogance. They have said that we fell down because we appeared to be arrogant. I say ‘we’ because we are all in this together. We appeared to be arrogant and we lost the way in understanding what humility means to Barbadians,” he said, while advocating for the party to take steps to mend its relations with the trade unions, which was strained over the last 10 years.
In addition to his prodding for his party to show contrition, Lashley made it clear that the DLP could no longer afford to sit silently while the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) continues to pile on allegations of corruption. He argued that the party needed to face these allegations head on, defend those that can be defended while denouncing those found guilty.
“If there are allegations of corruption then you have to meet and face those allegations. If there are persons who are found guilty, I don’t know if anybody has been found guilty of corruption, but if there are persons guilty of corruption, we as a party should be the first to say that we frowned on corruption,” he said noting that the DLP must push for these persons to bear the full brunt of the law.
Last year, one of the party’s stalwarts and former minister of commerce, Donville Inniss, was indicted in the United States on charges associated with money laundering. The BLP administration has also levelled countless accusations against the previous government for questionable contracts and under-the-table deals.
This afternoon Lashley was adamant that the party has to “again find its way within the discourse”, where zero tolerance is attached to corruption.
“Where the Government stands along that pathway, we have to be bold enough to join with them along that pathway. There are commonalities in relation to certain matters that common ground has got to be found.”
He also noted that while the DLP must still play a major role in checking the power of the ruling administration, the party could ill-afford to be a dissenting voice just for the sake of doing so.
colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb
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I have to give credit where credit is due: he is the first and only person in the DLP that has said anything that is accurate and worth listening to. De Peiza, I hope that you are listening, instead of talking your usual arrogant nonsense.
I like what he is saying… I give him props
Today I am just here for the comments and the laughs.
Wish I had arrive in Barbados in time to peek in on the repentant Dems in their dilapidated confessional on George Street.
The Dems have no clue what is meant to be humble. As it stands right now, they are irrelevant.
Well said..
The saying goes that you must be humble to be exalted. Where are the instigators like JOHNNY THE CROW and his coterie, you`ll can line up one after one behind Lashley and make your confessions. apologies or what ever you want to call them.
You know some ppl does got a nerve, after them verdammter verbrecher get and mess up the country , he STEPHEN LASHLEY, want to come and plead insanity, he now here come to confess his sins, trying to get all philosophically up in here, are you looking for forgiveness, and trying to cleanse some sins, you trying to play JESUS, you got two lepers in your head. or you trying to see if you can raise the dead DLP,all you the DLP doing is trying to undermine what the BLP is doing, by trying to cover up your all wrong doings, you think it gine be easier on your minds if you got some one to blame, but too late, we are one blood but we aint the same but we still got to carry each other, and that is what you all fail to do , and that is what MIA trying to do right now carry every body,
he and the rest is a bunch of demons, i do not want no sweet talk about being humble. humble my ass wunna do not anything about humble when wunna was mekking bajans ass hear and mekking sport at we. go and jump off a cliff.
Looka de SHORT man…that STEP..HEN is just under a year TOO LATE.
STEP..HEN,the saying goes that SHORT PEOPLE should be SEEN and NOT HEARD….time for YOU to DISAPPEAR off the Political scene.
Looks as though you were expecting to be chosen as one of the spokesmen…. on WHAT though?…so now that VERLA has ignored you,you come out playing ‘nice boy’…man people like YOU still want to FOOL the MASSES.
Look… the ANNIVERSARY of all ya DEATH coming up…save that talk till then…in the meantime, just CHILL…and tell those that approach you like the one on Roebuck St….that .. you ARE NOT a MINISTER ANYMORE.
Yes jump off the cliff together down by animal flower cave after the count of three, 1 2 3 go
All of Dem
i see no signs of the DLP becoming humble in any hurry. They can not even admit that some of their bad decisions and the fact that they hurt many people. They continue to believe their own lies.
What this once great party of The Rt Hon E. Barrow and company needs right now is a party purge. All of it’s members who sat in the House of assembly and senate, all of it’s government Ministers from 2013 to 2018 should recuse themselves at this time from any leadership position in the DLP, this should include it’s present leader and General Secretary. This DLP party needs to regain trust in the 30 constituencies of Barbados and the only way to do that at this time, is to introduce new faces for examination and selection by local election in each constituency of a person to represent the DLP in the next general election and by extension build the party by adding new membership at the constituency level. The roll of those who recused themselves should be to provide their services to the party for a smooth transformation.
at least one of DEM finally get it right
Agreed with cecil
purge DEM robbers and bring in all new faces along with what Stephen said humble…..
I remember after the 2013 election Mia humble Owen at BLP headquarters. the Bees had to stay humble and rub shoulders now it look like the Dees have to do the same.
Ha ha. I can almost feel the fear from the above comments of those that are terrified that Phoenix is rising! Stay tuned.
Pedipac what fear j/a,the persons above are telling you and the Dead Labour Party to take a hike with these present group including the present leader and deputy and bring fresh faces.Otherwise you all face the possibility of another redwash in 2023,the ball in your court.
Who says the DLP is dead???? The political party enjoys the healthy fibers of the minds of the gang of 30, now occupying Parliament. They mention the DLP in every sitting, and that is good publicity. When the voters realize, that they have jumped from the frying pan straight into the fire – conned big time by these rebels- then punishment at the next polls would be devastating.One month short of a year in power, and the prices of everything keep rising and even with NSRL gone. Water rates gone through the roof, bus fares up, blood pressure up, gun crimes out of sight, public transportation as confused as the bunch of fat cats, pot holes around the country have become pond holes, and the list goes on. I wonder how many of the 111,968 voters that eagerly placed their X for the slick ones last May 24th, are still on board. I know many have been made to walk the plank. Of the total registered voters in 2018, 143,865 did not vote. Does anybody feel that those people are convinced to vote BLP in the next general elections. I hate it when anybody tries to trick me, with my eyes wide open.
SUMMARY RESULTS (PRELIMINARY)
Party Code Votes Candidates Seats
Total % votes Change Number Change
Barbados Labour Party Winner BLP 111,968 72.83% +24.60% 30 30 +16
Democratic Labour Party DLP 33,985 22.10% -29.20% 30 0 -16
Solutions Barbados SB 4,188 2.72% +2.72% 28 0 –
United Progressive Party UPP 1,965 1.28% +1.28% 23 0 –
Coalition of United Parties CUP 580 0.38% +0.27% 15 0 –
Independent Candidates IND 1,059 0.69% +0.33% 8 0 –
Total Valid Votes 153,745 100% – 134 30 –
@Carl Harper: Instead of being critical you and the B L P need to take warning. Historically there was no humidity from the Dems or Bees, and it’s continuing with this administration.
@Johnny Crow: You need to forget about the statistical aspect of the D L P’s history for one moment, and focus more on the aspect that will aid in rebuilding. Find some quality material, that’s termite resistant for the new structure.
@Greengiant
I have no desire of being a politician, and am certainly not one. I am simply a DLP supporter not a yardfowl,and an observer of politicians and their rhetoric. I will, without a doubt, remind them of the past statements, which now contradict their present positions. People like Carl(Liz)Harper I have zilch respect for, given its dubious history which it held government Ministries. Now it is on this page daily, parading as if we the people are stupid. No shame whatsoever from that Bumble Bee who is always willing to meet with you.
Carl cannot decided if he is a man or a woman, that’s why I describe Carl as “it”.
By the looks of things the BLP and their “happy” associate friend BERT will help to aid the phoenix to rise from the ashes (forget the word humble). So sad that the majority people cannot see that these 2 YARD sticks can do nothing major for them. And this includes the other wanna be YARD stick that Green Giant always promoting.
If the Bajans ever decide to listen, I do hope it won’t be from the group that you were once a part of.
Never again should any of you should be allowed to set foot on any Political platform for any party anywhere on planet earth.
Ppl like Jennifer and others want putting on a moses surrounded by sharks, great whites,
He appears to be rather gutless for not speaking out at the time about the “arrogance”, elitism and aloofness exhibited during the period. In my view, he appears to be too much a ventriloquist dummy than a visionary. There has been and still appears to be too much a smallest of vision and narrowness of focus on credible progressive policies to move his organisation forward.
@Roger – THOUGHT (WE) ALREADY WERE. Including u Roger. Think my boy.
Roger Parish one of the good days a baby alligator will nibble your balls from inside the comode. Jennifer and I might differ sometimes in opinions, but your wish for her is outrageous. You BLP hounds are vicious.
@JOHNNY CROW, I will have to lol, that is not nice i love my nuts, JENNIER says the darnest things at time, i aint no hound, i am not B OR D i just keep it real
I will stand in the corner of my LADY Jenny.
We just call it as we see it and remain
NUETRAL all the way.
Of the total registered voters in 2018, 143,865 did not vote.
Does anybody feel that those people are convinced to vote DLP in the next general elections.
I hate it when anybody tries to trick me, with my eyes wide open…that CROW says.
….but this JOHNNY CROW was TRICKED by the DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY for 10 years and 90 days and was TRICKED again into voting for DEM on MAY 24th 2018..WITH HIS EYES WIDE OPEN jack.
He was ONE of the 22% that got TRICKED AGAIN then and getting TRICKED again into believing that VERLA dePEIZA will be the NEXT PM and GOOD NIGHT IRENE the Deputy…lord havest
mercy.
By the way,your fellow YARD FOWL and well known HYPOCRITE on this blog…one SONYFAIR said your beloved PARTY ,that CROOKED DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY was DEAD.
I am glad though that you pointed out to that NUISANCE Carson C the C,,,, that the BLP got 72% of the VOTES and NOT 44%.
….and for that REMINDING that PEST that he would have scored NOUGHT in an 11+ exam,I would give you CREDIT by removing CROW from your name,but in my books,you are still recognized as being a JOHNNY…cheers!
@HARRY TURNOVER, If them aint vote it says them didnt want BLP OR DLP and didnt had the faith of the other new parties, so the way how things looking them might not vote next election if we live,
Stephen Lashley and the DLP have to humble themselves for 10 years and 90 days for anyone to take the Dems seriously again — the same duration of time they were arrogant and fleecing taxpayers monies.
But this confessional by Lashley is noteworthy. I interpret it as a shot at Verla Depeiza and an attack on her leadership — unrepentant and showing no remorse. It says to me that Lashley is going after the leadership of the DLP for the 2023 elections.
It is going to be an all-out war among the Dems on George Street.
@CARL HARPER, You might be on to something, there, never look at it from the light,maybe that is his way of tell her to shut up, also to IRENE SANDIFORD GARNER, so true, shut up woman and let we bitr the bridle, we did crap for ten years three months, settle down lol
Johnny Crow you talking a lot of foolishness. No one sows today and reaps today. What we are reaping in this country today, gun violence and all is what your DLP Government sowed in the last ten years. Now we are reaping the crap that you sowed. Your DLP Party will never gain power in this country ever again so you and your BLP supporters can sing till the cows come home. Mr. Lashley talking about humble. He never thought that they should have done that during the 10 years they were in office. I use to listen to them in the House and they were so arrogant and nasty that I do not ever want to see the DLP in the House of Assembly again. We will never take any chances with you lot again not even the new ones that are joining you because I feel they are all being brain washed and will only end up bringing this country down again after the BLP work they backsides off to get it back to where it needs to be. I hope you never find your way out of the wilderness.