Atherley rules himself out of February 11 election

Former opposition leader Bishop Joe Atherley confirmed on Monday he will not be among the candidates contesting next month’s general election, even as he maintains his commitment to political life in Barbados.

“I will not contest this election, and if the next question is, am I through with politics in Barbados, the answer is most definitely not,” he told Barbados TODAY. “I am still very much involved in the political process. I am still trying to stay very politically aware, and politically committed to the interests of the people of Barbados, but I will not be contesting this election here.”

Atherley, who won the St Michael West seat for the Barbados Labour Party in the 2018 general election before leaving the party to form the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) as the sole opposition voice in the House of Assembly, insisted that he remained committed to the interests of Barbadians.

He said: “I am very much committed to the interests of the people of Barbados, and I have always said that wherever I find that I might best serve those interests and that what I see unfolding before me is not something that compromises my Christian position, Christian principles or my ministerial profession, I’m willing to give myself to that.”

“I don’t wear labels of B, D, L, K, Y, J. My first suit is not a party label. My first suit is the blue, yellow, gold — the Barbados colours of the interests of the people of Barbados. I do what I can to serve those interests. Right now at this moment, I will not participate in the next election as a candidate, but I’m available to the people of Barbados in any way that they ask me to be, and that opportunity allows, in the interests of Barbadian people, not party.”

On Monday, the United Progressive Party (UPP), the New National Party and the Conservative Barbados Leadership Party announced that they would be joining forces under the banner of the People’s Coalition for Progress to contest the poll.

Unlike when the PdP joined ranks with the UPP to contest the January 2022 general election as the Allied Party for Progress, the former MP said neither he nor his party were involved in any coalition with the smaller parties.

“I’m not involved in any of these coalitions. I’m not a member of any of the two major parties, nor have I been involved to this moment with any of the two main parties,” Atherley said.