The Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) candidate for the January 20 by-election in St John, Hudson Everett Griffith, says his political mandate is “100 per cent representation of the people”.
“I am not going to leave out anybody when it comes to representation,” he said, charging that the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) behaved as if it represented just some of the residents of the rural parish.
The 45-year-old businessman is one of two political newcomers – the other late Prime Minister David Thompson’s wife Mara – seeking to win the St John seat that had been held by Thompson, who died last October 23.
St John has long been a DLP stronghold, but Griffith says this has not been reflected in any improvement since the Dems returned to power in 2008.
Griffith got his feet wet in politics during the 2008 general election, assisting BLP candidate Tyrone Power in a failed bid to defeat Thompson.
While relatively unknown in political circles, Griffith has made a name for himself in volleyball.
He was a member of the Barbados team that in 1994 won the Caribbean Volleyball Championships in the Bahamas. He maintains a keen interest in the game, doing some coaching.
Griffith was born in St Vincent and came to Barbados when he was just four years old.
His parents – Granville and Audrey Griffith – are both reverends, and Griffith says he considers himself “a spiritual man, having been raised in the Protestant faith”.
He was educated at The Lodge School. He was later trained in industrial psychology, marketing and small business at the Barbados Institute of Management & Productivity (BIMAP).
At the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic he received training in small building foremanship. He gained a certificate in construction supervision.
He has been in business for about 25 years. He is linked to two companies: INDI-Marketing Ltd, a printing business, and H.E.G. Construction Inc., a building firm.
He is married to Maria Griffith, and they have two daughters and a son.
Griffith is a member of the Bridgetown Toastmasters Club and president of Friendly Hall Sports Club. He has also served as president for the Gymnastics Association.
He reads extensively.
“I am more into autobiographies, books about people of inspiration, like Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Harry Belafonte,” he said.
“These are all people who can take you to the next level with living. I enjoy reading people’s journey through life. That’s what gives me inspiration.”
