DLP Revival

Political party says it’s bouncing back with hundreds of new young members

By Sheria Brathwaite

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is coming back with a bang, general secretary Steve Blackett said on Thursday as he disclosed that more than 500 new members, most of them young people, had joined the 68-year-old political organisation in recent months.

Seeking to silence critics who have declared that the party is on its deathbed, he said the new blood would help return the DLP to its former glory, as he also declared that following the annual general conference next weekend when a president will also be elected, “you will see a resurgence of the Democratic Labour Party like you have never seen”.

Blackett disclosed that 75 per cent of the new members were 35 years or younger.

“The DLP is far from dying, there are several green sprouts we have seen over the last number of months and it is evident from the number of people we have been attracting to the membership of the party. It is certainly far from dying; it is a party that is flourishing. Between 500 and 600 people have joined this party over the past number of months, and that is a clear indication that some attractiveness is presenting itself to the broad cross-section of Barbadians . . . . We expect this to continue,” he said at a press conference at the DLP’s George Street, Belleville, St Michael headquarters to provide details on the party’s upcoming 68th annual general conference.

“What we will put on display over the next number of weeks, especially the conference week, will be clear evidence that this party is on the rebound. We have a mantra within the party that the only way from down is up and certainly, this party is very much in the ascendancy.”

The DLP suffered two straight election whitewashes from which the general secretary acknowledged it needed time to recover.

“In 2018 and 2022, the party suffered a shellacking that it never experienced in terms of our electoral presence and performance. In any organisation, political or civil, that would be a daunting exercise, one from which you have to regroup, refocus and refashion your politics. Obviously, what we were offering in the 2018 and 2022 elections . . . was not attractive enough for the electorate and it showed in the results. Therefore, we had to go back to the drawing board and refashion our side of politics, our quality of politics and that is where we are,” he said.

“We are doing a lot of work behind the scenes under the leadership of President Dr Ronnie Yearwood. We have approved a tremendous amount of policy decisions which will inform the party, build the party and reinforce the party. You will see a lot of this being manifested after the conference in August . . . . You will see a lot of movement within the party post the conference, and we are almost at the launching pad to launch this party to be the viable, exciting party it once was. So, post the conference, you will see a resurgence of the Democratic Labour Party like you have never seen.”

Blackett could not say exactly how many members the DLP had on record, noting that the number fluctuated, but he said the party was focusing on building out its membership.

He added that the DLP was also working to strengthen its constituency branches and internal operations, work was being done to revamp accountability within the organisation, and the headquarters was undergoing renovations.

Although not providing details, Blackett said members and stalwarts were making contributions to the rebuilding efforts, including monetary donations and giving of their expertise on issues of national significance.

The DLP’s annual general conference will be held August 18-20, during which time former government ministers Dr David Estwick and Richard Sealy, along with businessman Ryan Walters will go up against Yearwood for the presidency of the party.

Nine people are contesting the vice-president position; two for general secretary; four for assistant general secretary; and two for treasurer. Another 46 people are vying for the six positions on the general council board.

The theme for the conference is Reset, Renew, The Way Forward.

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