Owen’s out

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur. (FP)

By Dawne Parris | Mon, January 16, 2012 - 12:10 AM

The Barbados Labour Party's (BLP) leader is staying out of the controversy surrounding the nomination process in the St James North constituency, where incumbent Rawle Eastmond faces a challenge.

Owen Arthur told the DAILY NATION that he would leave it to the party’s internal process to resolve any concerns surrounding the executive committee of the branch’s call for a nomination even though Eastmond, who has represented the area for the past 20 years, had indicated he would contest the next general election.

“There is a distinction between the Leader of the Opposition and the party’s institution and organs that are required to deal with these things. This is a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of the executive and the national council of the Barbados Labour Party,” he said.

“The Leader of the Opposition does not have a responsibility to go in and settle the matter and I wish people would understand that distinction.

“I’m the leader of the Opposition, the party has a group of officers in the national council, it has an executive committee and they will preside over the matter.”

Read the full story in today's DAILY NATION.