Sharing a moment are (from left) Democratic Labour Party candidates Colin Spencer, and Esther Byer-Suckoo (right), and former member of Parliament for St George North, Cyril Walker. (UR)

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY (DLP) candidates for St George have taken Government to task over conditions in the two constituencies.

Colin Spencer, candidate for St George North, and Esther Byer-Suckoo, candidate for St George South, both said it was time to bring the "Dems" back to St George to improve the quality of life for residents.

They also offered to be the agents-of-change for the needs of residents, if put in next election, by developing the parish.

At a Press conference on the playing field of Workman's Primary School, the candidates pointed to poor housing, unemployment, lack of public transportation and facilities for the youth and the elderly, as some of the areas they would address on behalf of residents.

Byer-Suckoo spoke about the absence of recreational facilities in the south, citing the pasture – which also served as the area's football field – as an example of poor representation.

She called it "rugged", adding: "It is obvious there has not been any plan or any vision for this part of St George, in fact, for much of rural Barbados . . . . "

Commenting on the actions of current Barbados Labour Party St George South MP Sir Louis Tull, she said: "Although you've had 15 years to do something, you've obviously had no vision. In 2007, I think we can do much better for the people of Barbados."

Bus service, roads

She promised to "earmark land and develop that land and put the necessary facilities in place".

Although both candidates commented on the bus service in the constituencies, especially the Middleton area, as well as the "awful" road conditions, especially in Workman's, Spencer said there was more to representation than roads and streetlights.

Calling for a more active parliamentary representative, both agreed that it was necessary to have a presence in the constituency at all times, not just around election time.

"I am not seeing any new ideas coming into representation," Spencer said.

He noted that for some areas in St George North, "outside of a church, there are no regular meeting places, not a single recreation centre", adding that the only facility was constructed during former Minister of Education Cyril Walker's term.

Byer-Suckoo said many of the elderly "are living in squalor".

Development of the skills and talents in the areas of arts, culture, sewing, drama, participation in NIFCA, and better debushing to lessen the resurgence of dengue fever in the area was also discussed by the candidates.

Walker, a former DLP representative for St George North, was also on hand to lend support. (AB-B)