Lashley supports PM’s call of snap election

Former parliamentarian Hamilton Lashley is not surprised that Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has called an early General Election for January 19. He believes she has made the best decision for the country at this time.

In fact, Lashley said in January 2020 he predicted that the Prime Minister would call an early election, based on the fact that the country’s other main party, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) seemed to be struggling to get its act together.

“I think this move has caught all of the opposition parties in Barbados by some level of surprise and they would obviously be unprepared for such a rush. But at this time, I am yet to be convinced that both parties don’t have their own internal problems in the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party.

“The point is that when you find yourself in those kinds of positions, you bring it to an ultimate position where you solve it one time. There are challenges in both parties and the best thing to do is resolve them and get the country running back on a normal course whether the Democratic Labour Party wins or the Barbados Labour Party wins or a coalition of labour parties come together to form the next Government,” he said.

On Monday, Mottley announced during an address to the nation streamed across online platforms, that Barbadians will be headed to the polls on January 19, 2022 to “recalibrate” as a people behind one Government and one leader and to determine who will move the nation forward. Nomination Day will be next Monday, January 3, 2022.

The former Member of Parliament for St Michael South-East who served under both BLP and DLP administrations, said that while any good strategist seeks the opportunity to capitalize on its opponents’ inadequacies and weaknesses, there may be more in the mortar than the pestle.

Lashley suggested that Mottley’s move may have something to do with “internal orchestration” and how things are done in both parties.

“I still sense that there is a level of disgruntled-ness in both parties. I think it’s the best decision at a time like this. We are going into a republican state and we have to work out our constitution and all the other internal systems that have to be worked out to have a smooth-running republic. This is the right time to call it at the start of the year. I think it is timely. I think it is right and I think a lot of matters will be resolved by now and the 20th of January,” he said.

“This is one of the most interesting General Elections. I can’t remember in the history of Barbados, certainly for a long time, that an election was called in three and a half years. Parties are now scrambling to put the systems in place and in some cases, to put candidates in place. But one thing is for sure is that by now and Monday, Nomination Day, all candidates must be in place.

“So, the rumour mill of who is running and who will not be running is going to stop. The disorganized candidates will definitely be at a disadvantage in this election. It is a herculean task that the Democratic Labour Party and the opposition parties will face. This is a true test of leadership,” Lashley added. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb