BLP denies leadership involvement in candidate selection

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has rejected claims that its senior leadership is involved in backing candidates during contested nomination processes.

In a media statement issued by Chief Executive Officer Senator Patricia Parris, the party said that neither the Political Leader, Chairman nor General Secretary becomes involved in selecting a candidate when more than one individual is seeking nomination.

Parris noted that the three officers together form the Candidate Selection Committee and have “remained scrupulously impartial”, ensuring that all prospective candidates are treated fairly and given an equal opportunity before members of the relevant party branch.

She added that suggestions linking the Political Leader or any other party officer to a specific candidate in a contested nomination are false and driven by improper motives.

“Anyone familiar with how the BLP functions will know that any attempt to associate the Political Leader or any other officer of the Party with a particular candidate in a contested nomination is driven by improper motives and grounded in falsehoods,” the statement said.

The press release was issued amid ongoing public discussion surrounding internal party nomination processes.