Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s election date announcement yesterday didn’t come as a shock for at least one party.
Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Lynette Eastmond, said she knew the announcement was nigh, hence, her party’s preparedness.
Stuart announced, yesterday, that the General Election would be contested on May 24, preceded by Nomination Day on May 7.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National NGO Network panel discussion at the Radisson Aquatica shortly after the statement was made, Eastmond spoke to UPP’s readiness to face the ballot for the first time.
24 candidates
“We will have 24 candidates contesting the election. We have started the process; we started the campaign so we simply continue to roll out our campaign. We’ve been getting excellent response and we believe that we will do well when polling day comes,” she said.
On whether St Michael West Central candidate Herman Lowe, who recently served 21 days stint at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds for contempt of court in relation to a civil matter, would be among the 24 Eastmond could not say.
She did confirm his release from prison and noted his interest in contesting the seat but she couldn’t with any certainty guarantee he would.
“We had a discussion but we haven’t concluded . . . . so we actually have to see what he is going to do. We should know by tomorrow . . . [or] certainly before Nomination Day [May 7]
“You know how it is, there are many people who say they will run . . . .You’re not really a candidate until you pay your deposit on Nomination Day. So more people can come, other people can leave,” she added.
Eastmond was optimistic about her chances in The City of Bridgetown against Barbados Labour Party incumbent Jeffrey Bostic, Democratic Labour Party candidate Henderson Williams, Independent candidate Natalie Harewood and Solutions Barbados’ candidate Fallon Best.
“My canvassing has gone very well. The people of The City do feel as though their concerns have been falling on deaf ears for a long time. I believe they want to see real change,” she said.
This will be her fourth attempt at entering the House of Assembly as a member. The previous three occasions she was an unsuccessful candidate for the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in St Philip West. (SDB Media)
