The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) was set to return to the elected legislature on Monday after spending six years in the parliamentary wilderness, banished by the voters from the House and Senate in two unprecedented general election shutouts.
Following a week of political drama, Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne was formally admitted back into the DLP — ending his own 20-year break from the party — and was declared its political leader and spokesman in Parliament.
Thorne told a press conference at the DLP’s George Street headquarters that the parliamentary business of the party will now be “considerably” strengthened even as he attends the House of Assembly on Tuesday and in anticipation of participating in the estimates debate next week.
“I want to tell you in terms of parliamentary service, I want the public to know this, that we intend to have a meeting [as] a matter of priority of the public accounts committee (PAC). People have been asking for that; and I can say to you, if there is any delinquency in terms of attendance at that committee, you shall know, the public shall know. This party intends to take the business of the public accounts committee very seriously,” the opposition leader vowed.
The Leader of the Opposition, who is the automatic chairman of the PAC, is adamant that this entity requires the government to account for taxpayers’ money.
Thorne also said he accepted the need for him to follow the rules of the party, an apparent reference to his turning up at party headquarters to apply for membership in the absence of the DLP president and general secretary.
“I have no personal difficulty being humble,” said Thorne. “I have no personal difficulty accepting the rules of this party. I say that because I recognize that the circumstances of my application, have been unusual. It is not usual that you come into a party, and you come in at this level…and it was kind of chilling just now to hear [Blackett] say political leader.
“I have joined as an ordinary member, but the circumstances have cast me into this office; yet, I must display humility, yet I must defer to rules, yet I must defer to the authority of the executive that I have found here. So, I want to say thanks to the party. The process was a little nervous for me at times, but I understand the circumstances.”
But president Dr Ronnie Yearwood who also addressed the press conference said that the process leading to Thorne’s readmittance almost got obstructed from its intended course.
“Regrettably, a lot of unnecessary noise and activity almost derailed what should have been a relatively simple process. Thankfully, to use the old adage, all’s well, that ends well,” Dr Yearwood declared as he was flanked by Thorne, general secretary Steve Blackett and executive council membersl.
Speaking soon after a brief executive council meeting Monday evening – the second in days summoned to address Thorne’s application for membership – Dr Yearwood also explained the dividing of roles between the party leader and the sitting Christ Church South MP as the political leader.
“Ralph and I, through our collaborative efforts, will continue to move this party forward. We have already agreed that our parliamentary caucus will consist of Mr Thorne as Leader of the Opposition and political leader, myself as president and leader of the party; the senators as well, as the shadow cabinet,” he disclosed, adding that the DLP is not a one-man show or a dictatorship.
Dr Yearwood gave an assurance that all are welcomed into the DLP who share its vision and suggestions are welcomed from every member “in all areas pertinent to the country’s business and of the party’s business”.
Stating that the party was moving in the right direction, the party leader said the 69-year-old political party looks forward to Thorne joining it “in this fight.” He pointed out that the new political leader has a wealth of experience from which the party can benefit, and “I am looking forward to working with the new dispensation. Together, we are stronger.”
Dr Yearwood said: “I would want to officially welcome Mr Ralph Thorne back into the Democratic Labour Party. The DLP is not a new entity, so it understands its own responsibilities to follow its own constitution, its rules and governance structures. Our founding fathers know this, and we still hold firm to that conduct today.
“Policy and process were two tenets that guided the deliberations of the party executive when we met to consider Mr Thorne’s application to join this great party.”
He told reporters he had refused to comment on Thorne’s application because he believes internal party matters should be discussed and ventilated inside the party.
Dr Yearwood said: “I genuinely believe that maturity and confidentiality are critical in the handling of sensitive matters of this party on behalf of the people of this country. One must keep a level head, otherwise, these matters may descend into complete chaos. Thankfully, along with the executive and Mr Thorne, we did not allow all of the public utterances and misinformation, to distract us from our duty to discuss and put away forward for this party and for the people of this country.”
General Secretary Blackett described the decision by the executive to accept the Christ Church South MP as a watershed in the DLP’s history.
“Over the last few days, we were privileged to sit down as responsible members of this party and hammer out an arrangement that I think will be pleasing to most Barbadians,” he said.
He thanked all who were responsible for helping the party to reach a resolution to the matter while acknowledging public comments that the DLP “bungled this arrangement”.
“I hear the complaints that we bungled this arrangement,” he said. “The Democratic Labour Party is an almost 69-year-old institution. We have rules and we have processes…and those rules and those processes have to be observed…and exactly what we were doing over the last number of days, was following the rules and exercising those processes,” Blackett insisted.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
