Estwick pledges loyalty to constituents

Former Cabinet minister Dr David Estwick is adamant he will continue to serve the constituents of St Philip West until they don’t want him anymore.

Estwick, who held that seat from 2003 to 2018 before being defeated in two subsequent polls, was responding to Barbados TODAY queries related to reports that he’s been offered an overseas posting should his Democratic Labour Party (DLP) wins the next general election due in just under four years.

The reports claimed that new DLP president Dr Ronnie Yearwood had asked him not to run again as a prerequisite for a foreign diplomatic job.  But Dr Estwick, who received 2 140 votes in the January 19, 2022 elections compared to the victorious Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) Kay McConney’s 2 580, is maintaining his loyalty to the people of St Philip West.

“I am more concerned about the representation for the people of St Philip West that I represented for 15 years previously…and essentially I am committed to the development of the party and to the development of St Philip West in any way that I can. Therefore I will try to use my experience and my skills and my knowledge to be there for them until they decide that I should hang up my boots,” he declared.

While acknowledging he held certain discussions with Dr Yearwood, the ex-Minister of Agriculture however declined to elaborate on the nature of the talks.

“We had a discussion, but I will not divulge that private confidential conversation. What I will say is that in 2022, I said to the constituents in St Philip West that I will not resume a career in medicine and retire as a politician. I am physically and mentally sound and I have a duty to use my experience and knowledge of society, politics, economics and finance to help the people of St Philip West and Barbadians,” the DLP stalwart pointed out.

“In fact, I am concluding writing a book on the Barbados economy between 1994 to present where I take advantage of my experience as former Minister of Economic Affairs, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors to the David Thompson government, and chairman of the Cabinet committee on economic policy as well as Chairman of the infrastructure committee of the Cabinet under Stuart [Freundel, Prime Minister].  The book will be peer-reviewed very soon.  The people of St Philip West and the members of the branch remain close to me,” Estwick noted when asked about his plans for the future.

When contacted DLP President Dr Yearwood said he had no comment to make.

Just over a week ago, Dr Yearwood announced the appointment of four Chairs of working groups. He will head the Working Group on Finance, Economic Affairs & Governance Reform; Melissa Savoury-Gittens will lead the one on Education, Family & Social Inclusion; Rasheed Belgrave presides over Youth, Culture, Sport & Juvenile Justice Reform, while Paul Gibson chairs the Working Group on Health, Social Care Services & Pharmaceutical Development.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb