Duguid still undecided

With three Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Parliamentary Representatives having already declared their intention to quit elective politics, a fourth BLP MP has not ruled out the possibility of stepping aside before the next general elections.

MP for Christ Church West Dr William Duguid on Monday hinted at the likelihood of not running again.

“Everybody wants to know whether I running again. No decision has been made as yet. I have to discuss it with the party, the leader and the constituency, but no decision has been made as yet,” Dr Duguid told Barbados TODAY.

He said there are two people who are interested in replacing him: Ryan Forde, who is reported to be the frontrunner and president of the constituency branch, Dr Lisa Jaggernauth.

Dr Duguid was victorious at the polls in 2003 and 2008 before relocating to Canada with his family paving the way for his colleague and fellow dentist Dr Maria Agard.

But in 2015 Agard was expelled from the party and Duguid re-emerged, declaring that his constituents persistently asked him to return.

MPs for the City Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, St Michael North Ronald Toppin and St Philip West John King recently announced that they would not be running again.

Davidson Ishmael is the front runner in St Michael North, Corey Layne in the City and Senator Kay McConney in St Philip West.

It is also understood that St Michael North West representative Neil Rowe may be stepping aside and entertainer Dale Rudder is tipped to succeed him. St Michael East MP Trevor Prescod is also reported to be considering leaving elective politics and Kemar Saffrey, who heads the local homeless shelter, is likely to replace him. There are also rumblings about changes in other constituency lineups including St Andrew currently represented by George Payne.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb