The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government is putting its general election drive in gear.
Yesterday, a senior Government official told the SUNDAY SUN that an all-day retreat involving every arm of the party would take place today at Queen’s College, Husbands, St James.
“About 200 people, including all Members of Parliament, senators, as well as constituency branch secretaries and other key electoral personnel, will meet behind closed doors tomorrow (today) for some major strategic discussions,” he said, noting the theme of the meeting would be Oiling The Party Machinery.
This development comes on the heels of an announcement by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last month that plans were moving swiftly to have the candidate selection process in St Andrew and St Joseph completed.
The Government source said the sitting 21 DLP MPs in the House of Assembly would contest the general election, constitutionally due by 2013.
He said seven candidate selections were to be completed and added Minister of Commerce Senator Haynesley Benn and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health Irene Sandiford-Garner were guaranteed to challenge Leader of the Opposition Owen Arthur and Barbados Labour Party (BLP) general secretary George Payne in St Peter and St Andrew respectively.
The source revealed that thus far, attorney-at-law Guyson Mayers, Senator Andre Worrell, Dennis Holder and Leo Graham had written the party indicating an interest in contesting the St Joseph nomination.
That seat is held by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dale Marshall, who may also be facing an independent challenge from his BLP colleague Rommell Marshall.
According to the source, seven people had indicated an interest in contesting the Christ Church West seat on a DLP ticket, including former candidates Taan Abed and Peter Barrow. Anglican priest Guy Hewitt also indicated yesterday that he might throw his hat into the ring.
The seat is held by outgoing BLP?representative Dr William Duguid.
He has been replaced by Dr Maria Agard.
Yesterday, Arthur declined to comment on this latest development, noting he was concen-trating on his own party’s affairs. However, he said he would address this and other issues at tonight’s nomination process to select a BLP candidate to contest the Christ Church West Central riding held by Minister of Sport Stephen Lashley.
Those seeking that nomination are former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Joe Edghill and businesswoman Margo Durant-Callender. Durant-Callender failed in her bid last June to win the Christ Church East nomination, losing out to attorney-at-law Wilfred Abrahams.
Political strategist Hartley Henry is expected to address three sessions of the retreat.
