A former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Senator has issued a call for a “total reset and mending of the broken pieces” within the DLP, and for greater unity and support from members as Dr Ronnie Yearwood regains the presidency of the political party.
This call has come from Apostle David Durant, who suggested that party members remain faithful to the DLP when casting their votes even if they accept inducements during a general election from other political parties.
Stating that he considered the DLP a make up of three groupings – visionary leaders, faithful and loyal members and committed supporters – Durant said there must be unity among them going forward.
Of the visionary leaders, he said, they are the DLP President and other leaders within the party that will work together to formulate policy and programmes within a very clear vision.
He said the DLP needed faithful and loyal members who would not jump ship when times got rough.
“This group are those who are involved in the different committees of the party and are participating faithfully. They are faithful in their commitment and participation, they are loyal in what they are doing. They are not tearing down, they are building up,” he said.
“The last group are the committed supporters … This group are those followers in membership who believe in the DLP’s philosophy and ideology and who will support the party by casting their votes in favour of the party at the call of elections,” said Durant.
“This group will make sure that when the election time comes and someone comes around to them and has a bale of money in their hands and offering them for their vote, they will take their money but they will vote DLP,” he said.
“If you give me a chicken I want it. I will cook it. If they give me money I [want it]. Who don’t want money in this place? I need it, but I know where to put the X. That is the difference,” he quipped.
Durant was delivering the sermon at the DLP’s 68th annual conference church service on Sunday evening. The theme for the three-day conference, which started on Friday, was Reset, Renew: The Way Forward.
“It is time to bring healing to a broken, wounded, divided party,” said Durant, as he called for positive energy and maturity among party members.
Declaring that a wind of change was blowing, he said: “We will put the past behind and we will rally together behind the leader. It is the only way we will make sense in this country as a political party who is training to reign. If we are training to reign, to rule, then we have to do it right from here”.
“I am seeing a brighter Democratic Labour Party and I am seeing a brighter future for Barbados. I am sensing there is a light on the horizon and we will have a very significant role to play in bringing that light to the surface, above the sea, above the horizon to shine down on this nation,” said Durant.
He said the DLP would be developing a strategic plan going forward, but said it will require members to give their full support.
“We are not going to get unity by spreading fables and spreading lies, we got to speak the truth, and the truth don’t need props. The truth can stand on its own any day … I see a brighter future. I see men and women emerging, I see the fear being cast off, I see the intimidation being cast off,” he said.
“President Ronnie Yearwood needs to know that he has the full support, not only the full support, but the respect of every member, the commitment and the cooperation of all the other leaders and members of the Democratic Labour Party,” said Durant.
“That makes things so much easier for planning, for implementation, for policy development, for strategic advancement, for killing every giant. When you have the unity of the spirit every Goliath in your way is going to come down,” he said.
Durant also urged DLP members to show each other respect and forgiveness, as he expressed hope that the George Street-based political party would experience a full transformation.
“A united DLP will release passion, resilience and sacrifice to complete the work it has started … All organs of the party must unite and work together for the advancement of the vision,” he said.
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