The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) will emerge from its present internal conflicts as a much stronger political force, says general secretary Peter Phillips.
He made this prediction yesterday during a break in the BLP’s 72nd annual conference, at the Deighton Griffith Secondary School,
Wotton, Christ Church.
“We’ve had a somewhat difficult period, but in all families these things happen, and I believe that we will come out stronger and much better for it
as a party,” he told the DAILY NATION.
In recent developments, the BLP parliamentary group ousted former Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley as Leader of the Opposition, replacing her with former Prime Minister Owen Arthur.
Former BLP minister Rawle Eastmond also complained about irregularities in the selection of delegates for the conference, saying the process had excluded some members of his constituency branch’s executive.
And on Saturday Mottley, who was to challenge lawyer George Payne for chairmanship of the party, withdrew, saying she would not take part in a tainted election process.
“I go by the saying ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough people do’, and I am very optimistic that whatever has happened within the party will redound to the benefit of the party at the end of the day,”
Phillips remarked.
“ . . . Families have differences and once everyone has made up in their mind that, look, it is in the best interest of the party, what has happened has happened. We need to move forward from here.
“I expect and anticipate that this is what will happen because the Barbados Labour Party is a party that has room for dissent.”
Phillips replaced parliamentarian Cynthia Forde as general secretary after Forde decided notto run, apparently because of concerns about the alleged irregularities.
“Cynthia has pledged her full support for me and I appreciate that,” he said. “The task ahead, as I recognise it, would be a very difficult one as general secretary.
“But I intend to give it my best shot . . . to promote the Barbados Labour Party and to build upon what we have after 72 years and increase membership within the Barbados Labour Party, particularly among the youth.”
He spoke of plans to visit those BLP constituency branches which are not functioning or operating below par “to see how best we can assist those branches in doing what we require of our branches”.
Phillips said he would also focus on improving the party’s British and New York chapters.
(TY)