DLP LEADER DISMISSES TALK OF RESIGNATIONS; GENERAL SECRETARY DENIES ‘WALKING AWAY’ FROM PARTY
By Emmanuel Joseph
A meeting of the General Council of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) reportedly came to a disorderly end on Wednesday night as party hierarchy discussed possible disciplinary action against a member.
Subsequent reports suggested that General Secretary Steve Blackett had resigned from the 68-year-old political organisation and that he stormed out of the session held at the headquarters on George Street in Belleville, St Michael.
But while Blackett would only tell Barbados TODAY on Thursday “I have not walked away from the party nor from my post as general secretary,” sources who were present at the meeting said that Blackett left the session after expressing his displeasure over the way in which the suggested discipline of a member was being handled.
“Forty years as a member, I am not prepared to walk away from this party,” Blackett declared when asked about the report.
Describing the conclusion of the meeting as tumultuous, the source insisted the general secretary left the session prematurely.
“The issue was about the second [public] meeting that was held at Baxters Road, The City on April 2, 2023,” said the source. That City meeting was reportedly organised by former candidate for that constituency Kemar Stuart and also involved former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, former party leader Verla DePeiza, Dr David Estwick, Paul Gibson and Robert “Bobby” Morris.
“That meeting was not sanctioned by the general secretary nor the council of the party,” the source disclosed.
“It was a longer meeting with a lot of internal policy matters, but that issue came at the end…at around midnight, actually, when it was recommended by one of the councilors to sanction him [Kemar Stuart]. That is where the contention came,” according to one source.
No sanction was taken against the member as matters of this type are more appropriately addressed by a grievances committee of the party, added the source.
Blackett declined to discuss what took place at the meeting and party President Dr Ronnie Yearwood, who chaired Wednesday’s night’s session, not only dismissed the reports of Blackett’s resignation, but also rejected as rumour, talk of his as well.
Dr Yearwood brushed aside the reports that Blackett had stormed out of the meeting.
“I am still very much a member of the Democratic Labour Party and the president and leader and Steve is still much the general secretary and a member,” Dr Yearwood assured.
“People want to spread all kinds of foolishness…In the same way that somebody from the Nation (newspaper) called me telling me that they heard I resigned, you are calling me and saying you heard Steve resigned…Somebody else called and said ‘I heard you stormed out.’ All you spreading both stories, tell them get it right,” he suggested.
“Nobody ain’t storm out. Whoever gave you the news, go back and tell them they are talking foolishness and that they should talk to me. Tell them call me,” an adamant party president advised.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
