President of the Democratic Labour Party Verla De Peiza Monday questioned the timing of the January 19, 2022 general elections announced by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
In a strong statement, De Peiza claims the Government is in “panic mode” and has put its interests ahead of Barbadians and the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the threatening Omicron variant.
She also pointed fingers at the ruling Barbados Labour Party for dividing the country and urged Barbadians to vote for change and rid the country of a one-party state.
De Peiza made clear that the DLP’s fresh and young team is ready to offer the country the leadership it needs.
Below is the full text of the statement.
Fellow Barbadians,
This is a dark day for our country. Truly we are in the silly season – but our people are not silly. In the midst of a pandemic and Omicron threatening, whilst still under a state of emergency, there is no compelling argument for an election to be called 17 months out, except to be self-serving. This is not what we expect of sound leadership.
It is clear that the government of the day has succumbed to feelings of panic and that the nation’s first call which is its people’s safety has been set aside to pursue selfish ends which expose our people to great harm and possible death.
The Democratic Labour Party appeals to our people to seize this opportunity of relief and arm themselves with courage, determination and hope and rally to the polls – safely – to exercise their franchise and send a clear and decisive message to the outgoing government that their wellbeing is paramount. And as One People One Barbados send a clear and decisive message that the opportunity for change has come. We agree that the nation is divided; but in a climate of 29-1, we must ask ourselves who divided the nation.
Let us be frank; Mia does not care; Mia Scares. But do not let that deter you from summoning every single ounce of strength in your being, indeed your right and your reason, to do what is best for Barbados. Vote on the day for a change to a government that puts the best interest of its people first. The Democratic Labour Party looks forward to being your standard-bearer, come January 20, 2022.
To be clear: our Party built Blackman & Gollop multi-purpose facility and Best dos Santos lab ahead of a pandemic. That is the foresight that we need now. We recall the days when basic services were not available because that day is today: water woes continue in St Lucy and the other rural parishes and up today electricity was off in St Philip. Unprecedented in recent times, our pensioners who took a significant hit with BERT suffered further indignity by going through this Christmas season without their pension. We wear our debt like a millstone about the neck on behalf of our children and even their children.
In making your decision at this seminal moment in our history I want you to ask yourself these questions: Are you better off now than you were in 2018? Are you finding it easier to feed your families? Did you expect after $400M on EduTech that we would be scrambling with online learning? Hyatt could have been completed by now, were it not subject to political shenanigans.
If there were such faith in projected projects in the next few months then elections would be scheduled after they become reality. Warmed over promises will not do this time. Our people will do more than watch this time. Because we have learned the lessons of the past, and we know how dangerous it is to have a one-party state.
Therefore, my fellow Barbadians this is your moment to have your say. It is your moment to send a message that a One-Party state will not cut it. This is your moment to collectively guide this country away from this strange form of governance and government. Together we must arm ourselves with our faith, the guidance of Almighty God and the determination to save our country. Go out on the 19th of January and with your pens, make indelible mark to signal enough is enough.
Over the coming days the DLP will lay out its case for why our rejuvenated, young and committed team is best placed to take this country forward; why we must never have a one-party state; and why we must always keep the voices, concerns and aspirations of our people at the centre of our social conscience. Our policies are designed to elevate our people and we look forward to the opportunity in the coming days to take you into our confidence.
God bless Barbados.
