Democratic Labour Party Confirms Ralph Thorne KC as New Political Leader alongside Dr. Ronnie Yearwood

The Democratic Labour Party has confirmed Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne KC as a member and the party’s new political leader following talks this evening. Dr Ronnie Yearwood remains the party’s President and Leader.

Below is a joint statement issued by Dr Ronnie Yearwood and Ralph Thorne KC.

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) thanks Barbadians from across the island and the diaspora for their outpouring of support and indeed their attention over the last week. We as a party needed to ensure our internal processing of welcoming our new Political Leader Ralph Thorne was done correctly and with the greatest care. We wish to greatly thank Barbadians for their kindness and patience at this time. We have seen that this country desires better, and truly deserves better.

It is our pleasure to announce that Mr Ralph Thorne, Member of Parliament for Christ Church South, the Opposition Leader was successfully voted to be a member of the Democratic Labour Party, and is now our Political Leader.

This is indeed a great moment for the party and Barbados as we now bring together the strengths, expertise and capacities of both Dr Ronnie Yearwood and Mr Ralph Thorne, K.C.

Dr Yearwood remains president and Leader of the Democratic Labour Party, who will manage and develop critical needs within the party to ready this great institution for when next the bell is rung. While Mr. Thorne K.C., well known as a legal luminary in Barbados and the Caribbean, can help change the trajectory of Barbados, takes the reins of the DLP in Parliament as political leader.

Dr. Yearwood was voted as president/party leader, of the DLP in August of 2023 by the membership of the DLP, and he with his wealth of experience both as a legal mind and in academia, will continue the pivotal role of rebuilding the DLP.

This is also a significant time for the membership of the party, both the young and the experienced, to come together, with an even stronger bond and force to represent and bring social justice for Barbadians.

We thank Mr. Thorne for his courage to be the bravest among the 30. Barbados, the Democratic Labour stands ready to serve with Mr. Thorne and Dr. Yearwood at the helm. Leadership of political parties in this modern age requires a great amount of strength, integrity and authenticity, which can easily be lost in such a fast moving space, but the Democratic Labour Party can embrace these qualities with the leadership of these two men.

Romans 8:28 tells us that, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (DLP)