Newcomer promises better representation than Atherley

Businessman and Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for St Michael West, Christopher Gibbs, has promised not to abandon constituents like their previous representative, Bishop Joseph Atherley.

Speaking during Tuesday’s virtual political rally, he assured he would give the constituency his all.

Bishop Atherley had represented the constituency as a member of the BLP until after the May 2018 general elections when he crossed the floor of Parliament to become Leader of the Opposition.

Now leader of the newly formed coalition Alliance Party for Progress (APP), he is contesting the St Michael Central riding in the January 19 polls.

Gibbs, who has deep family ties within the BLP and the constituency, said after Bishop Atherley left the BLP he made it a priority to restore the trust between him and the party, and constituents.

“I’ve come to politics in St Michael West to do what Joe undid, and that is to restore trust and confidence that he eroded. He left a foul taste in the people’s mouth and I had to work hard to restore that confidence,” he said.

“I guarantee you that I will use the measures of the standard-bearers of this great party, the Adams, the Cummins, the Cox, the Fordes, the St Johns – that is what I aspire to be in politics in this country. To lead you, my future constituents.”

Gibbs added that after seeing the “fountains of sewage” in the streets along the south coast and other unfortunate situations the previous Democratic Labour Party administration allowed to fester, he was determined to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, late businessman Sam Gibbs, and other nation builders to improve the social and economic circumstances of all his constituents.

“So, I stand today on their shoulders and I hope that I can encourage others to do the same – to build, to make something of themselves, to eliminate the vicious cycle of poverty. That is how we will do it.

“A commitment to pursue excellence, integrity and honour… that is what I am about,” he said. (SB)