Verla can bring home the bacon

IN 1994, THERE WAS such a wide division in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) that the Erskine Sandifordled government was defeated by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in a parliamentary “noconfidence” motion, with the aid of several DLP dissidents who crossed the floor, thus causing an abrupt end to that parliamentary session.

The DLP subsequently lost the general election because the party was still deeply divided.

Within one year of Freundel Stuart’s oath of office, being the seventh Prime Minister of Barbados, we again heard of division within the DLP government. This time through the resolute leadership of Stuart, the party survived that session of parliament and with the meanest of majorities, went on to win the 2013 general election, and served for a further five years, plus.

Division again became a part of the 2018 general elections when several people became interested in wearing the leadership hat. The party suffered the worst defeat in the history of Barbadian politics. The party won none of the 30 parliamentary seats, and some detractors labelled the party as “Dead Labour Party.”

Verla De Peiza took over the leadership of the DLP in 2018, when the party was at its lowest ebb. At that time, some pundits thought out loud that she would be an interim leader and the right person would appear at the right time to lead the party to victory in the next general election.

De Peiza is a political scientist, lawyer, and criminologist, with the gift of gab, organisation and outstanding management skills. The party is completely satisfied with her internal workings. It appears that she has dug the DLP out of the horrible pit that it was in, and has propelled the party forward by building partnerships with others, regardless of colour, class, belief, or organisation.

She has made leaders from among the candidates selected to contest the elections for her party in the next general election, for example, the candidate for St James South, Dr Ronnie Yearwood, has brilliantly articulated a new policy of “universal basic income” which has left some competitors “catspraddled” as they try to sow seeds of confusion and discord among the Barbadian public.

The thought of this policy has so scared the Government, that it has given the country a VATfree day. The country would have been better off with a tax-free day, which should have been announced long before low-income employees were paid, and had completed their Christmas shopping.

They will not benefit from this panic gift. I am sure some would have loved a gratuitous payment, or salary increase. Or yet, the government could have implemented the “universal basic income” policy that the DLP is currently articulating, and call it the politics of inclusion.

Now is the time for the party to unite behind its leader, De Peiza. Division is not an option. It is the road to certain defeat at the next polls. Remember that the BLP was also defeated when their leader, current Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, was ousted as Opposition Leader, by her own party, midway in the 2008 to 2013 parliamentary term of office. A party divided against itself is on the road to certain defeat.

De Peiza exhibits her own convictions, depends on her selfimage, self-worth and self-esteem, and not on popular interest. Her focus is on passion, purpose and hope for future generations. There are certain principles that she would not violate and standards in life that she would not break. During her years at the helm of the DLP, in extraordinary circumstances, she has blossomed and borne the fruits of her previously hidden potential.

She is ready and capable of leading the party to victory in the next general election.

– ALGERNON ATHERLEY

DLP PRESIDENT VERLA DE PEIZA (FP)

FREUNDEL STUART (FP)

DAILY

PRIME MINISTER MIA

AMOR MOTTLEY (FP)