PM urges voter registration, seeks another mandate

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has called on Barbadians to ensure they are registered to vote ahead of the general election on February 11, while also seeking the public’s mandate for another term in office.

The appeal came as she addressed supporters at her Barbados Labour Party’s picnic and rally at Checker Hall, St Lucy, on Errol Barrow Day.

“We have until Monday to ensure that your names are on the list. If you don’t know, pick up your phone and text ebc.gov.bb and put in your ID number in the box, and if you are registered your name will come up,” she stated.

The Prime Minister instructed those who do not see their names on the list to visit their nearest BLP campaign office or the Electoral and Boundaries Commission to verify their status, “Because this is not a time for persons to be lagging, because when you lag you will end up sometimes outside and you have no control over what happens.”

The BLP leader also urged supporters to turn out and cast their votes.

“I don’t want to hear that you all going to win and I don’t need to disturb myself or I don’t want to come out. We need your vote, we need your permission. That is what a mandate is,” Mottley said.

She indicated that she would be campaigning alongside the party’s 29 other candidates across the country over the next 21 days, “because it has now started officially.”

Mottley also endorsed St Lucy candidate Peter Phillips for a third term, praising his resilience and commitment to representing people.

“This man, in spite of everything that he has had to go through recently with the loss of two close brothers — and anybody who knows the family knows that this is a close-knit family — Peter, you have been making representation for your people, from the water to the roads to the facilities,” she said. “I want you to know in this parish that when you see Peter Phillips, you see Mia Mottley. We are coming.”

The Prime Minister stated that while the BLP is not perfect, it continues to govern in the interest of communities.

“I know that we will continue to do well by you. This Barbados Labour Party has never professed to be perfect, but we are good for Barbados and we are good for you,” she said. “Help us not take anything for granted, help us be confident but not arrogant, help us go from house to house to house, help us explain that this is a mission in progress.”

She added: “All we need is your permission to continue to take charge.”