DLP selects two nominees for Senate; swearing-in set for today

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has selected two nominees for appointment to the Senate and is expected to formally submit their names to President Jeffrey Bostic today.

General Secretary Pedro Shepherd confirmed that the party’s governing council met on Wednesday night and agreed on two recommendations.

“I really can’t share anything with you other than to tell you that the council of the party met last night, and there are two recommendations to go to the President of Barbados today,” Shepherd told Barbados TODAY.

When asked whether the nominees were party leader Ralph Thorne and former Opposition senator Ryan Walters, Shepherd declined to confirm the names, saying it would be premature to do so before the official letter is delivered.

“I really can’t tell you the names of the two. I shouldn’t tell you the names of the two until the letter gets to the President,” he said.

However, multiple senior party sources have indicated that Thorne and Walters were selected during the meeting.

Thorne, who previously served in the House of Assembly during the last parliamentary term, contested the St John seat in last week’s general election but was unsuccessful. Walters ran in St Michael North West.

The swearing-in ceremony for senators is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at State House.