Hewitt to challenge De Peiza for Dems’ leadership

Anglican cleric and former diplomat Guy Hewitt has confirmed that he will be making a bid to unseat Verla De Peiza as president of the Democratic Labour Party.

“I have made contact with the branches and have advised them that I will be seeking their nomination for President,” he said in a brief statement.

While saying he had no desire to contest the leadership of the DLP, he declared that “persons both inside and outside the party made it clear to me that the time has come for new leadership not just in the Democratic Labour Party but also in Barbados”.

He added: “We need to renew confidence in the party of the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow and we need to restore democracy, social cohesion and sound economic footing going forward.

Hewitt said he will fully outline his plan on his return to Barbados next week. He is scheduled to hold a press conference next Friday.

The 53-year-old priest and social development consultant served as High Commissioner of Barbados in London during the DLP administration from 2014 to 2018. He played a lead role in the Windrush scandal as an advocate for British West Indian residents there who were being deported or denied benefits despite their postwar immigration to the UK when their home countries were still British colonies.

Hewitt was ordained a minister in the Anglican church in 2004.

( Read full story in Wednesday’s Epaper)