Reverend enters political fray to contest January 19 election

The man who came within ten votes of defeating Member of Parliament Santia Bradshaw eight years ago is returning to challenge her for that St Michael South-East seat once again.

Reverend Patrick Tannis, who works in career banking and wealth management confirmed to Barbados TODAY that he paid in his deposit just after noon on Friday, December 31, and will be seeking to unseat Bradshaw in the January 19, 2022 General Election.

“I have returned to politics. I will be contesting with God’s help, at the next General Election in Barbados. And I will be doing so based on my convictions which are centred on my Christian beliefs,” Tannis said.

Though he did not indicate for whom he will be contesting the seat, indications are that Tannis is likely to be running on the newly formed coalition party called the Alliance Party for Progress (APP) ticket which is being led by Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley.

Back in February 2013, as a first-timer on a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) ticket, Tannis scored 2 393 votes while Bradshaw scored 2 402 votes. So close were the scores that the votes were recounted almost four times in a marathon 10 hours before Bradshaw was declared the winner around 5:20 a.m.

Tannis, who said he is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday, January 3, which is also Nomination Day, indicated that he intends to make Barbados the crypto currency centre of the world, resulting in zero unemployment.

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Pedro Shepherd will be contesting the St Michael South East seat on behalf of the DLP. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb