DLP accused of using Reifer in by-election

Outgoing St George North Member of Parliament Gline Clarke has expressed disappointment in former Barbados and West Indies cricketer Floyd Reifer’s decision to be “used” by the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) as a candidate.

During Thursday night’s Barbados Labor Party (BLP) meeting at Newbury, St George, the longstanding MP claimed that as recently as the last general election in 2018, Reifer had pledged his support and the support of his family to Clarke’s campaign.

“I like Floyd, that is the truth. Floyd used to support me and, in fact, I gave Floyd one of his first jobs at the National Housing [Corporation] when he was not playing cricket. I helped him over the years and he helped me. Last election, he sent a message because he was not in Barbados to tell his family to vote for Gline Clarke,” the former MP claimed.

“What has changed now? I am saying that the Democratic Labor Party is using Floyd and I have said that over and over again and I know what I am saying. They are using him and Floyd should not allow the Democratic Labour Party to use him in that way,” Clarke contended.

During Thursday night’s meeting, seasoned members of the ruling BLP again took aim at the choice of political newcomer Reifer as the DLP’s candidate to face off against trade unionist Senator Toni Moore.

St Philip South MP and Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir charged that the timing of Reifer’s ascension into politics was “off” and criticized the candidate’s use of “old slogans and rhetoric”.

“I have nothing bad to say about [Floyd] because I entered politics and I had to establish my name, but I am going to tell you something and I want you to take it seriously. Your timing is off. You have come at the wrong time. Take me seriously, my brother, I have been there,” Weir advised.

Adding fuel to the fire, the MP cried “shame” on DLP President Verla Depeiza for opting not to grab hold of the first opportunity to represent her party in Parliament since 2018.

“I am ashamed of Verla DePeiza, because she is a woman looking for recognition as a leader in this country and I want to say to you, Verla DePeiza, that if you are a leader, you should lead from in front. Don’t put Floyd Reifer in front of you. This is a seat that you are running as a candidate in. You have suggested to the people of St George North that the Dems are likely to win this seat. Why aren’t you the candidate?” asked Weir.

“If I am leading an institution that has been decimated at the polls and I feel now that my leadership is worth salt, I would put it to the test in this by-election. But she didn’t do that. As far as she is concerned, ‘let me try out Floyd’. Well, poor Floyd,” he added.

During his remarks, Clarke reminded constituents that the coming election would be a “crucial” opportunity for them to grade the Government’s performance over the last two years after ousting the Freundel Stuart administration.

“When [the DLP] comes to you, you must ask them certain things. We must not forget, because two years is not a long time. We must ask them certain things.

“This election is crucial because we want to know what you think about us as we move this country forward. We want you to look at the current programmes,” the outgoing MP added. (KS)