Democracy will be on the ballot when Barbadians go to the polls later this month.
This was the clarion call by Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Philip North, Michael Lashley QC, who got his campaign underway for the January 19 General Election with a spot meeting at Lynches on Tuesday night.
Delivering the final remarks on a platform shared with DLP newcomers Dawn-Marie Armstrong and Neil Marshall, candidates for St George South and St Philip South, respectively, Lashley contended that while the aim of his party is to form the next Government, the country could ill afford a continuation of the status quo in which the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has carte blanche power.
The three-time Member of Parliament charged that the Mia Amor Mottley-led BLP, which won all 30 seats in the 2018 election, has abused its largely unchecked status in the Lower House, “slipping through legislation that disadvantages the average Barbadian”.
“I come to you tonight to say to you that come January 19, you have to vote for democracy, you have to vote to save this country.
“The reason I say that is because there are no checks and balances in existence in the Parliament of Barbados at this time. Laws are being passed and you don’t know when they are passed, laws that affect you adversely,” said Lashley
He pointed to the recent Debt Settlement (Arrears) Act 2021 as one example of the types of unchecked legislation which has been “allowed to slip through in the dead of night”. (CLM)
