Independents and several other candidates representing various political parties turned out yesterday to pay their deposits into the Treasury to ensure they are on the May 24 ballot.
In what appears to be a record year for the number of candidates throwing their hats into the political ring, members of the Democratic Labour Party, the Bajan Free Party, the Barbados Integrity Movement, the People’s Democratic Congress, as well as Independents who have left established parties and those who say they just want to make a difference as individuals, journeyed to the Treasury to tangibly make their bid for a say in the political process.
Independent candidate for James Central, Joseph Jordan, said: “I am here to anchor and see that black people have some benefits and improve the lives for our people.”
It is the first time the businessman is running, following in the footsteps of his twin brother John Jordan who ran on a Barbados Labour Party ticket in the 1980s.
Leader of the Bajan Free Party (BFP), Alex Mitchell, paid up, along with party members Charles Taylor and Paul Scott-Rey. The BFP has joined hands with the Kingdom Government Party and the People’s Democratic Congress, forming the Coalition of Unified Parties.
Independent candidate Lesloyed Bishop, a contractor, said: “Realising how hard things is in this place today is one of the things that pushed me to get into this race. I cannot say I am going to blame the Government. I think who I am going to blame is all of us. We need to come together and show Government we are the government.”
Mark Adamson’s People’s Democratic Congress is making yet another bid to win political office.
“Our thing is not to win the government as such. Our thing is to make sure that we make an impact on the minds of so many of our voters, our respective constituencies and even beyond” he said. (GC)
