Political Tensions Persist in DLP Despite Efforts to Address Leadership Struggles

Political tensions within the opposition Democratic Labour Party persist despite attempts by political leader Ralph Thorne to introduce a team of spokespersons to address key national issues.

While Thorne insists the move will ease divisions within the party, political analyst George Brathwaite has raised doubts over whether it will effectively resolve the leadership struggles plaguing the 69-year-old party after tensions reached their peak at the annual party conference that ended on Sunday.

The internal conflict has intensified since veteran party member Hartley Reid tabled a ‘no confidence’ motion against expelled president Dr Ronnie Yearwood, former general secretary Steve Blackett, and the DLP’s Executive Council. Reid remains optimistic that the party will stabilise within the coming weeks.

Addressing the DLP’s annual general conference over the weekend, Thorne announced the appointment of a team of spokespersons to address Barbadians on pressing national issues. This team, a blend of youth and experience, includes former Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy and Dr David Estwick who have held the agriculture, health and economic affairs ministries in previous DLP administrations.

While Brathwaite commended Thorne for this mix, he expressed concerns over whether the new DLP team would effectively heal the party’s divisions. He acknowledged the importance of blending fresh perspectives with experienced voices, but added that it remains “too early to pass judgement on whether this will help quell the ongoing tensions within the party.”

“It’s a process where he [Thorne] has snatched control. It can work out, but there are still a lot of uncertainties,” Brathwaite remarked, echoing the sentiments of fellow political analyst Dr Christina Hinds.

Brathwaite also criticised Thorne for how he handled the announcement of a new opposition senator to replace Tricia Watson. Watson, who currently serves alongside Senator Ryan Walters, was reportedly not informed of her replacement before the decision was made public.

“I thought the respectful thing to do would have been to let her know of his intent beforehand. Of course, he’s under no obligation to do so, but given her service to him over the last few months, whether or not they always agreed, it seemed the proper approach,” said Brathwaite.

Thorne’s actions have also sparked concerns regarding his public criticism of the police during his speech at the DLP conference. Brathwaite viewed this as unnecessary and noted that a man of Thorne’s stature should be capable of conveying his points without chastising law enforcement in public, particularly given the critical role they play in addressing the country’s crime challenges.

“I found it regrettable,” Brathwaite continued. “Additionally, it’s unfortunate that he repeatedly referred to certain members as ‘renegades’. As the leader of a divided party, Thorne has a responsibility to offer an olive branch and strike a conciliatory tone to move forward.”

Despite these challenges, party stalwart Reid remains hopeful about the DLP’s future, expressing confidence that the party will appoint a new management team by late September. He highlighted Thorne’s intention to form a group to gain the endorsement of constituency branches in preparation for any upcoming general election.

“With several officers either expelled or resigning, we need new management in place. By the end of September, I expect the party will be ready to announce its leadership and the way forward,” Reid told Barbados TODAY.

Reid emphasised the DLP’s need to fight to regain governance and “relieve the people of Barbados of this stress and strain under the Mia Mottley administration.”

Once the party gets organised and its spokespersons start addressing key issues, Reid is confident the DLP will demonstrate itself as a viable alternative to the current government. He also expressed faith in the party’s ability to unite its members and win public support, stressing that many Barbadians are calling for a strong opposition.

Having moved past the annual conference and the expulsions of Yearwood and Blackett, Reid revealed there would be no need for his ‘no confidence’ motion to proceed. Instead, he urged the party to focus on organising new elections for its general and executive councils to get the DLP back on track.

“The next step is to have new elections for the general and executive councils. That should be the focus now,” Reid declared.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb