Democratic Labour Party political leader Ralph Thorne has urged the opposition party to unify in order to “rescue poor people from an oppressive” government.
The unity plea came as talk of a party divide surfaced yet again with the emergence of a viral video on social media.
Speaking Sunday night at a DLP St Peter branch meeting, Thorne told Dems that it was time to focus their energies and efforts on saving the country from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration, referring to the government he was a member of until last month as an “enemy”.
Now opposition leader after an abrupt crossing of the floor of the House of Assembly last month, the Christ Church South MP told a packed meeting at the All Saints Centre, Mile and a Quarter, St Peter, that supporters must act in defence of the people.
He said: “There is an enemy lurking in the halls of government. It has to be our mission to remove that enemy from places of power.
They only understand power but they don’t understand the word responsibility. The government has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, not to protect the rich alone.
This is not a government that is compassionate.
“Let us not do it in defence of low office in this party. Let us not do it in defence of low office in this party. Let us do it in defence of the people of this country. It is our duty to the people of this country.”
Thorne encouraged both supporters of himself and DLP President Dr Ronnie Yearwood to work hand in hand.
“Don’t come to me about fractions. Don’t come to me about old guard and new guard.
Come to me and tell me we are taking fresh guard. Wherever the fractions reside, there is a wicked government in place. Wherever the fractions meet when they come out of those meetings, there is a government that is oppressing the people of this country. It must be our mission to rescue the people of this country,” he said.
The opposition leader charged that millions of dollars are being spent annually on wasted trips while Bajans are suffering.
“I want to raise my voice in defence of the poor people of this country. Thousands of them were sent home and the money that could have paid them is paying the airlines. It is paying consultants, some of them making as much as $15 000 and $20 000 a month.
“Do you have a voice in defence of the poor people in this country? Do you put a child to bed at night hungry? Are you the parents of one of those children who go to school and fall asleep at 10 o’clock because they are hungry? Bright children who are not being given a chance like the children of those who literally fly high.”
Thorne punctuated his remarks by acknowledging the presence of key members of the party and repeatedly urging them to work as a unit.
The comments follow indications of persisting party fracture at the highest levels of the party, which has returned to the House of Assembly after two general election defeats that locked them out of Parliament.
In a viral video that surfaced over the weekend, DLP member Paul Gibson was trying to speak to General Secretary Steve Blackett.
In the under three-minute video, Gibson said the president had directed him to speak to Blackett. Repeated attempts by Gibson to speak to Blackett proved futile as he was not acknowledged.
Gibson addressed the video at the meeting, saying that in many ways, he regrets doing the recording which was created months ago.
At Thorne’s invitation, Pastor David Durant called on key members of the party in a prayer for healing and unity. He also asked that there be no disrespect shown to either leader.
Former agriculture minister and DLP candidate for St Peter, Haynesley Benn told an emotional gathering that it was now time to move forward.
“If we can swallow our pride and hold hands and go forward we can make it. I want you to come with me out of the past called yesterday and walk with me to the future. Tomorrow is waiting, let us journey there together.”
The other speaker for the night was Kemar Stuart. The meeting was attended by present and past officers and candidates: Senator Ryan Walters, Yearwood, Blackett, Neil Marshall, Pedro Shepherd, Walter Maloney, James Paul and Randall Rouse, Felicia Dujon and Tyra Trotman.
