IT WAS ANOTHER landslide victory for Mia Mottley and defeat Number Two for Democratic Labour Party challenger Patricia Inniss in St Michael North East last night during the 2013 General Elections.
Just before 11 p.m., at the St Matthew’s Primary School, returning officer Gwendoline Bridgeman-Bushell announced that Mottley had again won the constituency, long considered a Barbados Labour Party safe seat, beating her rival, this time, by 1 918 votes, an increase of 203 votes over 2008.
The BLP deputy leader polled 3 495 votes to Inniss’ 1 577. There were 27 spoilt votes. Mottley led in every box, in some cases by handsome margins.
The veteran parliamentarian, who arrived with an entourage of enthusiastic, red shirted supporters, was on hand to hear that her results were the first to be announced during the night.
Thanking the Electoral and Boundaries Commission officers, who started their count promptly at 8 p.m. and who were led by Bridgeman-Bushell and election clerk Adrian Walcott, for this feat, Mottley also thanked lawmen who maintained law and order and the Transport Board bus drivers who ferried the boxes from the various polling stations.
She later told her vocal supporters that she was humbled by her latest victory.
“Every time you face the electorate, you literally place yourself in the hands of the people,” she said.
“Whatever the result tonight,” Mottley said, “it is going to require the effort and participation of all Barbadians irrespective of political favour, political party, irrespective of class, irrespective of race.
“We face a serious, serious challenge,” she noted, “and we have to transform this country. We have to change how we relate to each other and we just can keep tinkering.
“And I really, really hope that if there is one thing the majority of people would come to recognise after this election, is that it cannot be business as usual. Our people are demanding more of us,” she stressed.
Mottley then treated her supporters to hugs and publically thanked them for canvassing in her community, while she threw her support behind new comers in the party.(HLE)
