Thorne to contest St John in next general election

Leader of the Opposition and Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Ralph Thorne, has announced he will contest the St John constituency in the next general election.

Thorne, who previously won the Christ Church South seat on a Barbados Labour Party ticket before crossing the floor in 2024, had withheld confirmation of his intended constituency earlier this year when unveiling 15 of the party’s candidates for the election constitutionally due in 2027.

However, at a press conference on Saturday, he revealed that attorney-at-law Corey Greenidge will now stand in Christ Church South, stating that his own decision to move was in response to repeated appeals from residents of St John.

“I feel honoured that many persons in St John asked me to contest the next election in that constituency, and I am happy to accept, although with mixed feelings about having to leave Christ Church South,” he said.

Thorne confirmed that his ratification was completed last week in accordance with the party’s democratic process.

He was keen to emphasise his continued commitment to his current constituents, stating, “My candidature for St John relates to a future event.”

“I can assure you that I am not daunted by the tasks. I will continue to do my work in Christ Church South, and I will proceed with my political work in St John.”

Reflecting on his work in Christ Church South, Thorne cited several community achievements, including upgrades to the Berinda Cox Fish Market, proposals for green spaces at Ashby Land and Harmony Hall, and various initiatives such as reading programmes and road tennis tournaments.

Turning to the issues affecting St John, Thorne raised concerns about the controversial Hope project, irregular waste collection, transportation challenges, and the continued impact of sargassum on coastal areas such as Bath, Martins Bay, and Consett Bay.

“We will be agitating for the return of St John as one of the oases in Barbados,” he pledged.

Meanwhile, DLP candidate Corey Greenidge vowed to be a strong advocate for residents of Christ Church South.

“I will wake up every morning, and I will fight for the rights of you in Christ Church South and the rest of the citizens in this country. I will fight for your safety. I will fight for your economic well-being and the things that concern your pocketbooks. I will fight for your future and for the future of your children and your grandchildren.”

The announcement comes as the Democratic Labour Party prepares to host its 70th Annual Conference from August 22 to 24.

Executive member Senator Andre Worrell described the upcoming event as “an opportunity for us to unite and to shape our path ahead”. (STT)