Twenty-six-year-old La Shawna Griffith is determined to be the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) candidate for St James South in the next General Elections due in 2023.
The published author and journalist presented herself to the branch Sunday at a meeting held at St John The Baptist Church Hall, Holders Hill, St James.
Griffith shared her vision for a better constituency and a better Barbados with the gathering.
“If I am selected by the executive to be the candidate elect for St. James South, I intend to ensure that persons from all socio-economic classes are able to enjoy a better quality of life. I know the residents in this community are from both the working class and the upper echelons of society.”
The journalist with Toronto Caribbean News said she is on a mission to bring the constituency closer.
“My goal is to bring both of these classes together to have social and networking events so that persons can have the opportunity to meet and mingle, share business ideas and be able to have viable feedback.
“I plan on being honest and transparent with each and every one of you and be your mouthpiece. Any issues or concerns you have I shall ensure they are dealt with in a timely manner,” the writer said.
Touching on current issues of unemployment and the ailing economy Griffith outlined some brief initiatives which she believes can help move the country forward.
“The Barbados I want to see is one where there is a greater ease of doing business, where young persons can have bank accounts established without having to find someone of good financial standing to create an account for them. The Barbados I want to see is where cultural practitioners are able to tap into the orange economy where applications such as Spotify, Deezer, YouTube and Apple Music are available for Barbadians to download and enjoy.”
Griffith also described a country with an increased minimum wage and where hotel workers are no longer the modern-day slaves, the youth have vast opportunities to thrive and where unemployment is well below the current staggering 55 per cent.
The political hopeful, a recipient of the People’s Choice Award for Writer of the Year, said she wants to establish literacy programmes in the St James South community.
“If we want to ensure that our young people can punch above their weight we need to invest in them when they are young and teach them our history and our culture. Gone are the days when children attend George Lamming Primary School and not know who George Lamming is. This party will ensure that the history and culture of Barbados as well as this party are taught to every single young man and woman. Because a man without history is like a ship without a sail or a rudder. Our history and our culture define who we are.”
Griffith, who has a degree in Political Science from the University of the West Indies, spoke of her love of politics from a young age and a burning desire to become a politician.
“I always loved politics. I loved watching members arriving at Parliament, with pep in their step eager to attempt to change the lives of average citizens,” she noted. (IMC)
