donville inniss

FIRST TIMER – DONVILLE INNISS (DLP)

by ANMARIE BAILEY-BLAKE

JUST AS HE CELEBRATED his birthday on January 1, Donville Inniss hopes 2008 would bring another set of changes: "Creating a new dawn, the beginning of a new era."

As the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate contesting the seat for St James South, he anticipates he would be the victor bringing the seat back to the DLP.

As one of 22 first time candidates to contest a seat in the upcoming elections, Inniss says he is bringing knowledge to the table.

"I did my degree in public sector management, I've worked as a public servant for seven years, and I have a very good understanding of what management in the public sector involves."

Added to this, he said his association with former Prime Minister Errol Barrow – someone he calls "a great visionary" and his "political mentor" – and his "robust debates" with contemporaries in today's political circles, have prepared him to excel as a Member of Parliament.

The son of Joseph and Jasmine Inniss, he was raised mainly in Bayfield, St Philip and attended St Catherine's Primary School, Harrison College and the Barbados Community College, before doing studies, as a Commonwealth Scholar, in Youth and Community Development.

He furthered his studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI), where he gained an honours degree in public administration, and then an MBA.

The married father of two, and owner of Global Overseas Ltd, an international business management company, said he always believed in being well rounded and in community involvement.

"I've always had an interest and a passion for youth and community work...not to earn a living but on a voluntary basis," said Inniss, who has been involved in associations like the Barbados Family Planning Association and the Barbados Youth Council.

The road to seeking elected office seemed a "natural progression" as did his affiliation with the DLP.

"I found that the programmes and policies of Errol Barrow and the DLP, particularly in the '60s and early '70s to have been progressive, very people-centred, focused on providing an enabling environment that allowed individuals to reach their full potential. I found greater comfort with Barrow's progressive and liberal policies and programmes."

Inniss joined the party in 1985 and served in various capacities, including constituency branch secretary/chairman, president of the Young Democrats and treasurer of the party.

The decision to run for the DLP was easy and so was the decision to run in his home riding.

"I know the DLP has policies and programmes that could appeal to all sides.... I saw a constituency with great divides ... lower and working class areas and then you have the middle and upper income areas.

"And coming from a working class background and now living in what people call the heights, I am extremely comfortable wherever I go."

Speaking on some constituency concerns, he cited dissatisfaction with current representation as one.

Countering criticism of his party's roster of candidates, Inniss said: "The DLP comes to the public today with a leader... who has had Cabinet experience.
We are bringing a team... all proven to be leaders in various spheres of endeavour and ... a clear vision of what Barbados should be and what it takes to get it there. We have a team that has the necessary experience to manage the affairs."

Issues he will focus on, if elected, include cost of living, the role of Government in reducing the cost of living, the lack of affordable housing, the decline in the state of health care and the hopes and aspirations of the youth.
(ABB)