A disappointing result!
That is how president of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Ralph Thorne described the result of the 2026 General Election in Barbados after the party failed to win a single seat.
It was the third such occasion the DLP was beaten 30-0 at the polls by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).
Thorne, who crossed the floor from the BLP In February 2024 and was Barbados’ most recent Leader of the Opposition, joined former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and former party president Verla De Peiza who led the party into elections without winning any of the ridings.
“Let us thank God that we acquitted ourselves well, that we brought the issues to the people of Barbados, that we fought a clean campaign, we set an example for the young people of Barbados, we set a good example for the children of Barbados,” he told the media.
“There was no vulgarity, no crudity, no profanity on our platform. And as they say, we fought the good fight, we finished the course, and we kept our faith. And we go forward, this party goes forward with the faith that what we do is relevant here.”
Former Senator Ryan Walters went down to the wire against Neil Rowe in St Michael North West, but he too came up short.
“I want to say as well that the result is disappointing. It is quite disappointing,” Thorne said.
Michael Lashley and Tyra Trotman, two former DLP members who left the party in recent times, both won their seats as part of the BLP.
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Outcome was never in doubt. DLP had no serious policies, only criticisms. Thorne is not a charismatic leader and would have been out of his depth representing Barbados on the world stage.