Close call for by-election hopeful

Independent candidate Alex Mitchell of the Bajan Free Party narrowly secured his place on the ballot for the May 21 St James North by-election, after spending most of Tuesday outside the nomination centre rallying nominators and awaiting their arrival.

Mitchell, who was first to arrive at the Gordon Greenidge Primary School in Rock Dundo with only one supporter, was unable to begin the nomination process until the full required team of four arrived: a proposer, a seconder, and two witnesses—all registered voters in the constituency.

He was officially nominated minutes after 2 p.m., just under an hour before the 3 p.m. deadline.

“It was a bit of a wait,” he told Barbados TODAY. “The people said ‘yes’ yesterday, and the day before, but today… I don’t know what fears or misgivings they may have had. This is Barbados—it’s a BLP or DLP country but we’re here now, and we’re running.”

Despite the rocky start, Mitchell made clear his campaign aims to shake up the political establishment, promising to champion a sweeping housing plan—44 100 three-bedroom, two-bath homes on what he claims is party-owned land—while accusing both major parties of years of land fraud and corruption.

“We’re bringing the hidden truth about Barbados that was never revealed. Truth, justice—in the Bajan way.”

Shedding light on the nomination process, Returning Officer Leonard Walters explained that the Representation of the People Act requires each candidate to present with a proposer, a seconder, and two witnesses and that all nominators must be registered voters in the constituency.

“Persons presenting as nominees, whether they are for a party or independent, must have with them– of course themselves and four persons who will nominate them,” he said.

A $250 nomination deposit, payable at the Treasury is also required prior to being nominated.

Walters added that candidates may also choose to appoint an election agent to act on their behalf, stating, “That person will act in place of the candidate– that is a proxy, if you want to call it that.”

He said that while the law sets out the eligibility, the procedure is also managed to avoid congestion.

“For expediency and order, and to stop the congestion of the persons coming through the entry, we don’t want a situation where we have everybody coming at the same time… so that by the time one person is off, then the other person can come in the next slot,” Walters explained.

Mitchell’s delayed filing was the only one of the day as the other three candidates — Felicia Dujon (DLP), Chad Blackman (BLP) and Steffanie Williams (Community Empowerment Party) — filed without issue earlier in the day.

The St James North seat became vacant following the resignation of MP Edmund Hinkson last month.

(SM)