DePeiza says DLP energized and ready to lead again

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Verla DePeiza has urged members to put their differences aside and get ready as a united group for the next general elections, as she also sent a message to the general population that the 66-year-old organisation is re-energized and ready to serve.

Speaking on the final day of the party’s annual conference at its George Street headquarters, where she beat challenger Reverend Guy Hewitt 507-295 to retain leadership of the DLP, DePeiza said a united front is needed now more than ever.

“This is the call to arms for all of our comrades to step up, step out, stand up for your party, [and] stand up for your country. This is the moment like no other moment that your country needs you – don’t let anybody bog you down in anything that happened in the last administration. Keep your eye on the prize, the prize is ahead of you,” she told supporters on Sunday.

“Let them keep talking whatever they feel like talking behind you; we have learned our lessons. We also understand that we had several victories in that time period as well, but we are striving forward.”

While acknowledging that the DLP had a tumultuous time in the last few years, with senior members expressing their dissatisfaction about the way the party was moving, DePeiza insisted it is stronger now than it ever was, and is committed to proving to Barbadians it is ready to serve.

“We have spent three years fixing ourselves; we are better for it, we are stronger for it, and, comrades, the message that the Democratic Labour Party is sending to the people of Barbados, and that we are sending across the river to Roebuck Street, is that the Democratic Labour Party is ready to serve – all of us with a role to play, all of us determined to save this country…. Today the 22nd of August 2021, signals the return of the Democratic Labour Party, energized.”

On Sunday, DePeiza named three new DLP candidates who will contest the polls when the general election bell rings: Marc Laurent will contest Christ Church South, Kemar Stuart will run in the City of Bridgetown, while Rasheed Belgrave will be trying to win the Christ Church East Central seat.

Acknowledging that the current slate of candidates formed part of a younger team than most were accustomed to, the DLP leader expressed confidence in the party’s choices.

“We are a young team, but we are a strong a committed team and nothing matters more to us than to see the Democratic Labour Party once again stomping its mark on the political landscape of Barbados, and because we are young we are full of energy and open to change,” she said.

Responding to critics who chided her for not naming all the party’s candidates, DePeiza stressed that the staggered unveiling of contenders was part of the current DLP strategy, which sought to give new persons to the political stage enough time to make their case to their constituents.

“Over the year, we took the decision that we would name our candidate in batches. I know the political pundits want to see a master list, but they are going to have to keep writing, keep the paper fresh, and keep adding to it, because we need to showcase our candidates and we are confident in the strategy that we have to ensure that our candidates get the spotlight that they deserve,” she said.

DePeiza added that party supporters must come to terms with a change of strategy within the DLP, as lessons learned during the 2018 general elections were being taken into consideration.

“If there is one thing that last year’s presidential election made certain and this year’s presidential election solidified, is that the dear, loving people of the Democratic Labour Party want change. We heard the criticisms coming out of 2018, and it cannot be that you will do things in the same way and expect a different result,” the party leader said.

“Hard as it might be, difficult decisions have to be made, but the Democratic Labour Party will make the changes necessary to keep us relevant in the lives of the people of Barbados. We will do so by pulling together, whether you supported one candidate or another. This morning, there is no Team Verla, there is No Team Guy…there is only Team DLP.” (SB)