President of the Democratic Labour Party Verla De Peiza said the selection of its candidate for the St George North by-election was an open and transparent process, one that left her with the firm impression that cricketer Floyd Reifer was the right choice.
Speaking at the party’s public meeting and gospel concert in the Glebe on Sunday night, she said St George North had “birthed a gem” and “had a son of the soil who was committed to the causes of his people”.
“And when you think about it, he has given up the possibility of an international career as a coach to represent you the people of St George North. And when you weigh that alongside what, if anything, his opponent is giving up, then you have all of the ammunition that you need on the 11th of November to walk boldly and confidently into your polling box and mark your ‘X’ for Floyd Reifer.
“And for him, and for us, it really was a question of leadership. You don’t have to be boisterous and bombastic to lead people, you don’t have to be a bully to lead people, you don’t have to be constantly upfront and pushing yourself and your name in everything to lead people. The hallmark of a good leader is to pick up a situation that is dire and make a hand of it. And I don’t have to tell you about that low period in West Indies cricket history when Floyd Reifer picked up what the media was calling a ragtag team and carried it overseas and performed creditably.
“That is the hallmark of leadership, and you don’t have to shout down the place, you just get on with it. And that is why he can say with confidence this is not about words this is about works,” said De Peiza.
The DLP president urged people to vote and send a signal to Government about how they feel about what had taken place over the last 18 months, including increasing taxes. (GBM)
