Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne Receives Enthusiastic Welcome at Barbados Parliament in Response to PM Mottley's Budget Address

Though small by comparison to the throng of Barbados Labour Party supporters who converged at Parliament on Monday, the welcome for Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) faithful was not lacking in enthusiasm as he prepared to deliver his reply to Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Budget address.

Members of the DLP shadow cabinet, including party leader Dr Ronnie Yearwood and former foreign minister Maxine McClean, arrived at the Parliament buildings shortly after 2:15 p.m., dressed in blue and yellow party colours, and conversed with one another and party supporters while waiting for Thorne’s arrival.

As Thorne’s vehicle approached, the crowd almost immediately roared into life, screaming praise and support for what many of them believed was the needed opposition voice.

After hugging and gifting him with a flurry of hugs and a bouquet, supporters joined in on a prayer for Thorne, asking for divine protection and support for the opposition leader.

After Thorne entered parliament to deliver his reply to the budget, one elderly woman said a lack of focus on the plight of senior citizens and the cost of living in Mottley’s speech on Monday was disheartening.

“I’m a senior citizen and there was nothing in the budget for senior citizens or pensioners. It’s very difficult for us to survive under a harsh regime. A lot of us seniors, some of us are diabetic, some of us are hypertensive, and lots of other ailments that the seniors in Barbados have, and there was no provision made for us,” she said.

“I now come from in the supermarket to look at some prices, and the prices that were there last week, they are no longer there, they are much higher. [Thorne] is going to address the issues, he can’t address all right now, but whatever he does we welcome him.”

Another supporter chimed: “She [Mottley] also said it would be a no-tax budget but adjustments will be made later. What are those adjustments? It means you will have to pay something.”

(SB)