THE OPPOSITION Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is preparing to step up its campaign this weekend with a public meeting planned for today, after what Leader David Thompson believes to be a favourable showing by the party during Tuesday's no confidence debate in Parliament.

"My view is that it helped the party" said Thompson, who tabled a motion of no-confidence in the House against the Junior Minister of Finance, Clyde Mascoll, claiming inappropriate conduct by the minister in the operations of a government-funded housing scheme.

"The point we were seeking to make is that the minister must not exceed his authority in that way, and I made the pledge that if any minister in any Democratic Labour Party government is found doing that, he would be fired on the spot," he told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

While Mascoll maintains he has done nothing wrong and the no-confidence motion against him was unwarranted, Thompson points out that he has not denied direct involvement in the operations of Hardwood Housing Inc.

The Opposition Leader also expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling of the House Speaker Ishmael Roett to suspend debate on the no-confidence motion.

He said the party was reviewing its participation in Parliament and would indicate in due course whether it would be returning to the House.

He, however, made it clear that the party was not about to lie down and play dead.

"We are not going to keep quiet. In other words, whether we are in Parliament or not, we will be on the streets and we are going to be holding a public meeting on Sunday [today] and for as many Sundays as are necessary, and additional days, we will get our message out to the people of Barbados," Thompson said.

This evening's meeting is set for St Paul's Avenue, Bayland, St Michael at 6 p.m.

The DLP leader said he was generally pleased with the response of Barbadians to date and he said there was growing evidence that the party's message was resonating with members of the electorate.

"We've been happy with the crowds we have been getting and we have also been happy with the response of Barbadians
to our message over the past few months."

He also expressed confidence about winning the next election, due by August next year.