St Michael Central constituents divided over Atherley’s decision to switch

A controversial decision by former Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley to seek to represent the people of St Michael Central has apparently divided the  community.

A range of Barbados TODAY interviews with people throughout the constituency uncovered support for the man of the cloth that, even if inadequate to capture the seat, could influence the eventual outcome.

While touring the constituency, Bishop Atherley, who is leader of the newly formed coalition Alliance Party for Progress (APP), dismissed suggestions from Prime Minister Mottley that his decision to change constituencies was intended to undermine incumbent and Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate Arthur Holder.

He declared he had no vendetta against the former Speaker of the House of Assembly.

“Ms Mottley can accuse me of taking an un-Christian step…. I came here out of genuine interest. Once my stint at St Michael West ended, Parliament was dissolved… then I was free to say to the people of St Michael Central who asked me to run, ‘here I am’. I will give my best to them, win, lose or draw. I didn’t come here two weeks ago. I have been here all my life,” declared Atherley.

“I am not here for anything to do with Arthur Holder. I am here for the same reason I moved across the aisle in the Parliament. I am here for the same reasons I went to St Michael West. I am here in the interest of Barbadians, in this instance, specifically and more immediately so, the people of Waterford, Deane’s Village, Bank Hall, Station Hill, Waterhall Land, all over Bank Hall. I am here to represent their interests,” he added.

Residents in some parts of Station Hill, where Bishop Atherley was raised and served as a minister of the gospel, were particularly supportive of his decision to leave St Michael West. However, those in other areas were divided between Holder and Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate Courie Cox.

“I respect the order that Mr Atherley is dealing with,” Michael Holder, a resident of Godding’s Road, Station Hill, told Barbados TODAY.

“He’s a good man. He has come here to help people because he is a man who helps people. Even in the church, he helps older people and looks out for everyone around him.

“His foundation is down here… and everybody knows him. He hasn’t just come here. He was here from the beginning,” the 54-year-old added.

Another Godding’s Road resident, Kareem Holder, said he would support any candidate who could assist him with much-needed repairs to his house which was severely damaged by recent weather events.

“I built a structure, and the hurricane blew it off. I was trying on my own to fix it,” he said.

“I don’t really know [the politicians] in that sort of way but I need help.”

Curtis Forde, who also lives in the Station Hill area, said he supports one man in particular who is “true to his word”.

The businessman said he respects Bishop Atherley’s decision to contest the seat and described it as “a good idea”.

“He is a man from this area. As a little youngster, I ran around in his house and I know his family and everything. He’s a man that I respect,” said Forde.

“I already have my general idea of who I am working with already, but I respect everybody.”

Over at Industry Road, Bush Hall, Elizabeth Samuel was considerably less welcoming of Atherley’s decision, though she said she had nothing personal against him.

“It’s a mistake! He will not get any vote from us. We are accustomed to Arthur Holder, and if we have to vote, we will vote for Arthur Holder,” said Samuel, a St Lucian by birth.

In Snag Land, Bush Hall, a woman said she was tired of Holder’s stewardship but did not know much about Bishop Atherley’s track record.

“Everybody deserves a chance. If he wants to run, let him run too. I may probably even vote for him,” she said.

Another constituent, known as ‘Dark Man’, was willing to give Bishop Atherley a chance.

“He was born in the area and he is a family man. He baptised me years ago. I was one of his followers and he has taken care of my entire family. If there are any events, including funerals, he would help us out and if anything happens in the neighbourhood, he would come around,” said the potential voter.

In Bedford Land, Savannah Road, Bush Hall, Sherry Holder declared that she only knew Bishop Atherley as a minister of the gospel, but not as a parliamentary representative.

She said: “Right now I am a real DLP… so right now in this time, the man for this constituency would be Courie Cox for me…. He’s young, he’s intelligent, he’s bright, so we could give somebody a chance now.” kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb