DLP people-focused

The introduction of nationally-televised debates and the promise of fewer public meetings will not deter the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) from meeting with constituents face-to-face and engaging voters “on their own terms” ahead of the coming by-election in St. George North.

This was the pledge of DLP President Verla Depeiza who over the weekend declared that the party’s “hands-on” approach to campaigning with first-time candidate Floyd Reifer would not be undermined by recent attempts a transform the campaign into a “three-ring circus”.

“In speaking to [Floyd], I get that he gets it. I get that he understands that people are the underpinning of any political experience and that anything else is fluff and pomp and circumstance. This is not a three-ring circus. This is an important task that the Democratic Labor Party is taking into St George North, and we commend to the people in St George North that we will continue to make this campaign about the people… and every day, we will be on the ground in different ways,” the DLP President promised.

“This is the party of the people, and we intend to return that to the psyche of the people of Barbados, beginning with the people in St George North,” DePeiza declared.

While announcing that the eagerly anticipated by-election would occur on November 11th, Prime Minister Mia Mottley revealed in the midst of a global pandemic, the number of political rallies and the level of community interaction would be limited. As a result, Mottley indicated that plans were in train for the hosting of three nationally-televised debates that would allow all candidates to participate.

During the party’s official introduction of Reifer as a candidate, DePeiza reported that a mix of seasoned campaigners and new faces has been greeted with a “positive” and “overwhelming” response to the “batting with Reifer” campaign of the former Barbados and West Indies cricket captain.

The DLP president predicted that the campaign would restore much-needed confidence in the party that was ousted in 2018 and provide a viable alternative to a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration that has placed the interest of businesses and the economy above the interest of people.

“I am satisfied by the fervor that we have had on the ground in St George North, and the people of Barbados, in general, we are also feeling that change. And there is nothing like the wind of change under your wings to help you soar… I am satisfied that this is the ascendancy for the Democratic Labour Party and I am calling on all of you to pull out all of the stops to make sure that you bring home St George North for the Democratic Labour Party on behalf of the people of Barbados,” DePeiza added.

She further explained that her decision not vie for a place in the coming election was out of the belief that the party’s candidate ought to have a prior connection with the constituents.

“That doesn’t have to mean that they were born there, raised there and lived there all their lives, but someone who has a connection with the community and had an opportunity to build the relationships that they can then translate into representation on a formal level. So it was important for us in the Democratic Labour Party to listen and hear what the people in St George North wanted,” she explained.

“This is the moment of the people in St George North. This is their time in the spotlight, and never will we cheapen their political experience by making it anything else,” DePeiza added.

During his first formal address to the party, Reifer declared his “deep devotion” to the party, but added that his first allegiance is to the people of Barbados and not to a “political colour”.

The cricketer noted that growing social ills including violence and dwindling opportunities for upward mobility among the youth were among issues he would be asking the government and the Attorney General Dale Marshall to address.

“I grew up a humble youth from St George. I am a proud husband, a proud father, and a Barbadian who will not be colour-blinded by noisy people shouting for more when the people of St George are getting less. I do not have to hold onto anyone’s coattails because I was born and bred in St George North. Do not look for big words from me, look for big works,” Reifer said in an apparent dig at BLP candidate Toni Moore.

“I grew up being my brother’s keeper and being my sister’s keeper and we are a country in need of better. We must ignore the naysayers and the ones who only know how to divide us into red, yellow and other colours. This will not do our country any good,” he told the party faithful.

During the DLP event, Reifer also received the endorsement of the newly-elected general secretary and president of the Young Democrats Kemar Stuart, former general secretary George Pilgrim and former DLP St. George North candidate, entertainer Colin Spencer.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb