DLP delays decision on Ralph Thorne’s application to join party

By Ryan Gilkes

Christ Church South Member of Parliament Ralph Thorne will have to wait a bit longer before he knows if he will be accepted into the ranks of the Democratic Labour Party.

This follows a meeting of the party’s Executive Council Saturday evening at their George Street headquarters to consider his membership.

General Secretary Steve Blackette told reporters moments ago that coming out of the meeting, which started at 4 p.m., it was decided to delay the decision on Thorne’s application, which he submitted to the party on Friday. 

“… and that is premised, of course, on the fact that we will have further consultations with him on his coming into the fellowship of this party, so that is where we’re standing,” Blackette said.

“… by majority vote, the Executive Council of the party made that decision … that we will have further consultations with Mr Thorne, and therefore, the decision to admit or not admit into the party has been deferred until then.”

Blackette told reporters: “All of these decisions, all of these scenarios really are new to the Democratic Labour Party. We are treading this path for the first time and therefore, it is all new to us.”

In the meantime, timelines are to be set for engagement with Thorne. 

Blackette said these will be determined and set by the party’s leadership and communicated officially to Thorne who is to be apprised of the outcome of Saturday’s meeting.

(RG)