De Peiza is new DLP president

Attorney-at-law and defeated Christ Church West candidate Verla De Peiza is the new president of the Democratic Labour Party.

She took up the reins, yesterday, almost three months after a defeated former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced he was stepping down from the post in the aftermath of the 63-year-old party’s whopping defeat in the May 24 General Elections.

DePeiza was unopposed during the party’s annual conference this weekend.

Former Parliamentary Secretary Irene Sandiford-Garner was elected as 1st Vice President.

Nicholas Alleyne, George Connolly and Andre Worrell were elected 2nd, 3rd and 4th vice president, respectively. Frank Firebrace was elected to the post of treasurer.

Meanwhile, long-standing General Secretary George Pilgrim has stepped down from that post despite, former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said, his pleas for him to remain.

Guyson Mayers is the new general secretary while Undene Whittaker is assistant general secretary.

Stuart, in his final address as president to the party faithful, thanked Pilgrim for the “commendable service which he has rendered to the Democratic Labour Party over the last decade”.

“In all transitions organisations can benefit from elements of continuity. With that continuity in mind,” said Stuart, “I had tried to persuade him to stay on as General Secretary but my persuasive powers were not enough to get him to change his mind.”

The former prime minister, however, said he hoped that after “a short respite”, Pilgrim would “make himself available for service as an officer of the party again”.
“George’s energy and commitment to the party and inspiration can still be of great benefit to the Democratic Labour Party,” Stuart said. (HLE)