The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is licking its wounds after losing both the 2018 General Election and its leader Freundel Stuart.
And following its 30 nil defeat to the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) yesterday, general secretary George Pilgrim has turned his attention to the party’s future.
“The people have spoken regarding the party to run their affairs for the next five years and this country has always had a peaceful transition from one party to the next,” he told the Saturday Sun yesterday.
“I don’t think you will see the Democratic Labour Party mounting a campaign that will last for five years into the next election for sure.
“It’s a wait and see game from the side of the government now. They have the responsibility, they have the majority and it’s their turn,” he later added.
Leader and former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said he accepted responsibility for the defeat and announced his retirement from politics.
With their leader gone, Pilgrim said a new party leader would be elected later this year when the party held its annual conference.
“Every year at the annual conference, branches meet and nominate people to office,” Pilgrim said.
“This year is no different, the branches will meet and nominate people to office. That’s a constitutional responsibility,” he added.
For the first time in Barbados’ electoral history, there will be no Opposition in Parliament as the BLP took all seats and led in all polling district boxes save for boxes JC2 and JE2 in St John.
Pilgrim said no DLP candidate thus far had asked for a recount.
And while he, as DLP candidate for St John, was the first DLP representative to ever lose that seat since the party held it in 1958, he thanked the people of St John for the support over the years and also thanked the people of Barbados.
Also thanking Barbadians for their support was former Member of Parliament for St Lucy Denis Kellman, who was representative of that constituency for 24 years.
When contacted, Kellman was in an upbeat mood saying: “I’m feeling great. The people have spoken and I can’t go against them. They left me, I won’t leave them.”
Kellman said it was too soon to determine what was next for his own political career.
But he said he would be watching the constituency and country to see how the BLP-led Government operated.
Meanwhile, a number of Kellman’s former DLP parliamentary colleagues took to social media to break their silence following the rout.
“I want to thank the constituents of Christ Church West Central for reposing confidence in me over the last ten years. I congratulate the BLP on its win. Our people have spoken. God bless you all,” former MP for Christ Church West Central, Stephen Lashley said.
“The people have spoken and the decision is to be respected. Congratulations to all of the BLP candidates. The new DLP shall rise again,” former MP for St James South, Donville Inniss pledged.
Former MP for St Michael West Central James Paul, also pledged the DLP would make its return.
“The party will rebuild and return even stronger to continue its mandate. The loss will be learnt from and will embolden the party to do better in the future. It is the intention of the party to remain true to its core,” Paul said. (AD)
