Rowe ekes out narrow win in St Michael North West

Barbados Labour Party (BLP) incumbent Neil Rowe narrowly retained the St Michael North West seat early Thursday morning, surviving one of the tightest contests of the general election, as Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s party completed a historic third consecutive clean sweep of all 30 constituencies.

Rowe held firm through a late-night tally at the Ellerslie School, the counting centre for St Michael North West, emerging as the winner over challenges from the Democratic Labour Party and Friends of Democracy. 

Neil Rowe beamed with gratitude right after the declaration, crediting his faith and the hard work that carried him through. “Well, I’m very happy,” he began, before pausing to emphasise, “And first I wish to give God thanks for giving me the strength.” He continued seamlessly, “And giving me the resources in order to be victorious here tonight.”

When Rowe was asked about the constituents returning him to office, he responded with heartfelt ownership of the win. “I have a lot of work to continue, and I also want to take this opportunity to say to the good people of St Michael North West, the people who re-elected me, to let me know that this victory belongs to them,” he declared, vowing dedication. “And I will continue to do my utmost and very best when it comes to representing the good people of Saint Michael North West and work now begins for me.”

But as the interview turned to the lengthy count process and one of the last seats called in the election, Rowe shut down any hint of wavering without hesitation. “No, please, I was confident,” he shot back firmly. “I wasn’t overconfident, but I know within myself that the amount of work that I have done across this constituency, you know, was sufficient for the.” He wrapped it up with assurance born from effort. “People to recognise and to make that determination and that is why I am here tonight.”

The St Michael North West battle mirrored the night’s drama across Barbados, where BLP candidates dominated from Bridgetown to the parishes, with Mottley’s party not dropping a single constituency. Rowe’s win with 1 674 to Walters’ 1,441 and Williams’ 36 votes, sealed the final piece of the 30-seat puzzle early around 3.30 am Thursday at the counting centre.