DLP Clarifies that Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne and New Senate Appointees Do Not Represent the Party

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) on Tuesday made it clear that Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne and his two new Senate appointees – though DLP members – do not represent the party.

General Secretary Steve Blackett maintained that Thorne is not a member of the DLP and therefore does not speak for it.

“For clarity, I must remind the country that Mr Thorne currently is not a member of the Democratic Labour Party, so the views expressed in both the Senate and the House by [him] and his team are solely their own thoughts and opinions,” he said in a statement.

Thorne twice ran for Parliament for the DLP before shifting allegiance to the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), campaigning for Owen Arthur’s return to power in the 2003 election. He entered the House in the 2018 election under the BLP before his abrupt departure last Friday, triggering his appointment as Leader of the Opposition, entitling him to nominate two opposition senators, Ryan Walters and Tricia Watson.

“At this juncture, the Democratic Labour Party, with the newly appointed Shadow Cabinet and some of the soon-to-be-announced candidates, will continue to highlight issues of importance to Barbadians,” Blackett declared.

“We will continue in our efforts to represent the interests of the population. We will continue in our fight for the poor and the most vulnerable in our society. We will continue in our quest to ensure fairness and equity for all citizens. Barbados is our country and we must all play our part in moving this nation forward.”

But the DLP spokesman commended Thorne and the opposition senators and wished them well.

“Ms Tricia Watson is a well-known attorney-at-law and social commentator who has shown her mettle in her staunch defence of the Barbadian public on the issue of the fairness of electrical costs on our island. Mr Ryan Walters is a businessman who has previously run for a seat in Parliament as recently as two years ago. Mr. Walters in joining Mr Thorne’s team is continuing his desire to have a voice in our country on matters affecting the Barbadian public,” he said.

He acknowledged that the duo’s appointment is a part of the democratic process.

Blackett noted the Constitution gives Thorne, as the Leader of the Opposition, the “absolute right” to appoint two individuals to the Upper Chamber.

“We, in the Democratic Labour Party, like many other people in Barbados, look forward to the robust and sagacious debates that have been a part of the Senate for generations,” the DLP general secretary added.

(EJ)