Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Michael North West, Ryan Walters, has declared that he is ready to reclaim the seat for the party at the upcoming General Election.
He was addressing supporters and residents at the official opening of his constituency office at the bottom of Free Hill, Black Rock St Michael, yesterday, where he said months of canvassing and engagement had shaped a “practical, people-centred development plan” for the area.
“I’m so honoured to be able to open this office today on the birthday of our founding father . . . it also gave us an opportunity to launch our campaign. And not only to put up posters, not only to put up billboards, but we were ready because we have a plan to rescue St Michael North West and this country.
“So do not be distracted by the conversations of readiness. Because the true test of readiness is the message and the agenda that we plan for the people,” he said.
Walters stressed, while campaign promotional items and visibility were important, sustained people engagement was top priority.
Confident
“We have canvassed the constituency. We have gotten to know people one-on-one. And I must say that my team has been so encouraging. I am confident that enough persons in this constituency know me personally or know of me. I am confident because we have walked the length and breadth of this constituency. And we have met as many people as we could have met. I am confident that they are ready to return this seat to the Democratic Labour Party. Because the level of conversation and engagement that we have been getting has blown my mind,” he said.
Walters said his constituency manifesto dealt with developing the youth and the elderly, adding incumbent Neil Rowe had done nothing.
While confident of victory, Walters acknowledged the challenge ahead and urged supporters to remain active throughout the campaign.
“We will win, but it will not be easy. I need every single one of you from this constituency, or those who are visiting, to come back and work with us at least once. If you are a resident of St Michael North West, every week, every other day, every three days, whenever you get time, come to the office to find out what we are doing.
“We will bring back those programmes that shine, and we will start new programmes. We will ensure that the constituency office is accessible and it is open. We will not ask persons if they voted when they come to the office. We will not try to find out where they stand politically before we assist them. That is not my way, and that is not the DLP way,” he said. (CA)
Confidence is easy to project during a campaign, but Barbadians have learned that readiness is proven in government, not on a microphone. We have heard promises of rescue plans before, only to see them fall apart when responsibility arrived.
Voters in St Michael North West, like the rest of the country, should look beyond enthusiasm and ask harder questions about track record, judgment, and results. Engagement matters, but so does evidence that a party can deliver when it truly counts.