DLP must take its time. And hurry up.

As the Democratic Labour Party approaches its 70th anniversary in 2025, the iconic party that ushered in Barbados’ independence finds itself embroiled in a bitter internal power struggle that is as tiresome as it is worrisome. The expulsion of party president Dr Ronnie Yearwood and general secretary Steve Blackett can only be fairly seen as a dark chapter in the party’s history, one that raises serious concerns about its future viability and the broader implications for the political landscape.

But we have seen this before. A post-election party in crisis, torn apart by deep divisions, a meddlesome old guard bereft of peacemaking skills, apparently unwilling or unable to either embrace or promote change. We may never know what might come of Dr Yearwood’s vision of “new politics” – centred on transparency, accountability, and creating opportunities for younger generations.

Whatever one thinks of Dr Yearwood’s political acumen, he clearly clashed with the entrenched interests of the party’s old guard and its hunger for a return to power over a return to order. The decision to summarily expel him and General Secretary Steve Blackett lacks proper consultation with the party’s membership and smacks of an attempt to stifle dissent and maintain the status quo. Nothing new here, either.

This internal turmoil comes amid a storied party’s struggle to remain relevant after suffering unprecedented defeats in two general elections by a popular prime minister. The loss of all 30 parliamentary seats to the Barbados Labour Party has left the DLP rudderless, desperate for someone, anyone to lead with Mosaic stature, ever ready to comment on the empress’s new clothes. 

We cannot stress enough that the implications of this implosion extend far beyond a political party. Since independence, Barbados has traditionally been served by a two-party system, with the BLP and DLP providing a healthy if flawed check-and-balance on each other’s governance. A further weakened DLP leaves a dangerously lopsided political landscape. Robust debate and competing visions are essential to a democracy and a new republic at that. No one – no one – has a monopoly on the best way to lead any nation. Ask generations of people living under one-party rule in African, Latin American and Asian states.

The DLP should take its time but hurry up to get its house in order. It must reflect on its core purpose and the values it claims to uphold while organising from the bottom up not the usual top-down approach. The Dems owe a debt of gratitude to party faithful Dr Yearwood’s defiant rejection of the notion of forming a new party. It could do worse than mending fences and finding a road to embracing rather than embittering rivals. 

Rather than merely railroading one leader to make way for another, the party could find great merit in the call for a “new politics” that prioritises the collective good over personal ambition. The Great Barbadian Public — Dems, Bees, independents and the non-committed — are weary of the divisiveness and lack of transparency that have plagued this country’s political institutions. No party is immune to this disease.

To emerge from this crisis, the DLP must heed the wisdom of its founding fathers and embrace the democratic principles that have long defined its identity. For the party to chart a path toward restoring credibility and relevance, its members, supporters and stalwarts must be willing to embrace new leadership, fresh ideas–and a genuine commitment to the ideals of Barrow, Smith and Tudor – real and durable opportunity for all Barbadians, especially the younger generation, not bread and festivals.

The party conference this weekend may be the party’s last opportunity for a decade for a fruitful, comprehensive self-examination. 

This may require difficult conversations, a willingness to confront the party’s many shortcomings, and a genuine embrace of generational change and new ideas rather than personalities. Only by doing so can the DLP reclaim its position as a meaningful political force, capable of being a viable alternative to the current administration and ensuring the continued vitality of a two-party system.

The stakes are high, not just for the DLP, but for the very fabric of Barbadian democracy. The DLP must take its time, but hurry up.