Nomination Day: Franklyn decries election breaches

The Opposition People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) is accusing the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) of resorting to desperation tactics in the St George Northby-election.

Speaking to reporters immediately after the PdP’s candidate David Walrond completed the nomination process at the Valley Resource Centre yesterday, Senator Caswell Franklyn accused the BLP of breaching Section 10A of the Elections Offences And Controversies Act by printing the image of their candidate Toni Moore onto their T-shirts.

He also charged that he had evidence that at least one political party had been engaging in vote-buying in this by-election, slated for November 11.

“People feel that they can do what they like and get away with it. These are brand new high-quality T-shirts, and I don’t know how they are going to fit all of this in the declaration of election expenses. They are breaching every rule in order to win this election. The Government is getting push-back from the people of St George North and people are more interested in David Walrond than their candidate,” Franklyn claimed.

However, when asked why he was singling out Moore’s campaign at this time when for many years political parties had trespassed in this domain, Franklyn contended that doing something for a long time did not make it right.

He also expressed concern that vote-buying was rampant within the by-election, stating he learnt that people were receiving money.

Walrond made it clear he was not going to let any of these issues deter him from his mission to represent the people of St George North. He arrived at the nomination centre at 1 p.m. and was accompanied by Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley as well as other members of the party. He was proposed by Yvette Price, while his sister Sonia Phillips was the seconder.

“I am now officially the candidate for St George North and I am the person that the people of St George North need right now. I am the person who has the history of service. I will continue to tout agriculture and I have more plans on how agriculture will help to save this country as we go through one of the worst economic situations in the history of Barbados.

“I have been talking to the people on the ground and I have been listening to the people, something I believe to be most important. In the remaining days we will continue our spot meetings and continue to bring our message to the people,” he added. (CLM)