The time is right for a reset.
This was the message delivered by incumbent president of the Democratic Labour Party, Dr Ronnie Yearwood, during the opening night of the 68th DLP annual conference at their George Street headquarters on Friday.
During his brief remarks, Dr Yearwood made a rallying call to supporters to get on board and work together for the good of the nation.
“This party as battered and as bruised as it is, this party has to stand up for the people of Barbados, and I want you to recognise that tonight as we reset, pull yourselves together, pull yourselves from the gutter, and understand that you are called to serve. You are called to be of service to the people of this country and to do good to them. The only way we can do that is if we stand united as one Democratic Labour Party family, we pull our strength, and we recognise that we have a place in this country,” he stressed.
The DLP president, who is currently facing challenges from party stalwarts Dr David Estwick and Richard Sealy, as well as businessman Ryan Walters, stressed that the country required and deserved a united DLP.
“The reality is that we’ve had our kicking, we’ve had our beating … now let us in our 68th year, let us lift our heads up high, let us pick ourselves up. It is time that we do it because this country deserves it. This country deserves that we get ourselves together to do what they need us to do for them.
“We can continue to play the games, we can continue to play the shenanigans, or we can grow up, we can stand up, we can be proud, we can say we are the Democratic Labour Party, and tonight we can say we are back in business, that is what we can do.”
Meanwhile, Senator Barry Griffin, Deputy President of the Senate of The Bahamas, also spoke during the opening day of the conference, and encouraged party supporters to join together and ready themselves to respond to the needs of the country.
“The founding fathers of our parties, and of all progressive parties across the region, had deep connections with each other, that was based on progressive, people-centred policies, and the advancement of our nations. Our parties were and continue to be beacons of hope, and purveyors of progress. Even in your time in opposition, DLP, you must ready yourselves.
“The bible says ‘there is always darkness before dawn’, so do not despair. Use this time to listen to the people, to hear their cries, and to once again become their voice.” (SB)
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