THOUGH MANY ARE CALLING it Mission Impossible, Barbados Labour Party (BLP) chairman George Payne yesterday told party colleague Hudson Griffith that he could win the St John seat in the January 20 by-election.
Speaking at the launch of Griffith’s Gall Hill constituency branch office before a crowd of about 67, Payne drew comparisons to the first arrival of Errol Barrow in St John. He noted that in 1958 the rural parish was a strong BLP riding and Barrow came into the constituency following two previous election defeats.
Payne recalled that the late National Hero sought and gained the support of the St John electorate in a situation where the BLP had previously won their favour by over 70 per cent of the vote. He added that 52 years later the BLP was in a similar situation.
The St Andrew MP argued that while many people believed in the notion of a “safe seat”, there was no such thing. He charged that the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) had been complacent in its stewardship of St John, even in the announcement of a date and a candidate for the by-election.
Payne, who was a member of Government between 1994 and 2008, said that during the imminent by-election the BLP would be addressing the neglect of St John and “the failure” of late Prime Minister David Thompson to get projects started in the constituency.
Deputy Opposition Leader Dale Marshall, who is also Griffith’s campaign manager, ridiculed the DLP’s by-election strategy.
He suggested that announcing a date before naming a candidate was akin to a man buying a ring, renting a place for a wedding reception, booking a date for the church, and having no idea who would be his bride.
Marshall said the BLP had been beaten consistently in St John but no one should believe the party had no backbone or was afraid of a political fight. He suggested Griffith epitomised the BLP’s willingness to engage in a political tussle.
Griffith called on the St John electorate to reject the DLP for its “arrogance in thinking that a seat is put down for them”.
He added: “Reject the DLP for thinking that they can bring a caretaker for a seat in Parliament.
St John is not some large plantation for which you can have a caretaker.”
He also called on constituents to punish the ruling party for breaking its promise to bring down the cost of living, for increasing taxes and water rates and for its record of job creation.
Mara Thompson, widow of David Thompson, is expected to be ratified today as the DLP’s candidate for the by-election.
