Caribbean News

By-Election Campaign Kicks of In Barbados

DLP candidate for St. John Mara Thompson says she is concerned about the treatment of seniors in the country. This is one of the issues she spoke to at the launch of the DLP campaign for the St. John seat Thursday night.

Ms Thompson took to the stage just after ten o clock and was a greeted by a massive crowd of thousands, dancing to the tune We Are Family.

She was escorted by police and accompanied by her three daughters and mother.

Ms. Thompson says she will disclose details of plans for the constituency but says one thing she will be doing if she wins, is lobbying for the greater use of community centers around the island, to help the elderly improve their lives.

Ms Thompson stressed that the elderly should not have to sit out their days in preparation to meet their maker.

Ms. Thompson also spoke about plans to encourage commercial activity in St. John.

The St. John by-election is about more than the polyclinic.

So said the Barbados Labour Party’s candidate, Hudson Griffith in his maiden speech.

He was addressing the party’s campaign launch at Edgecliff.

Mr. Griffith has called on the government to do more for the people of the constituency.

Finance Minister Chris Sinckler is charging that some merchants have increased prices on some goods that should have gone down with the reduction of the environmental levy.

Speaking at Gall Hill he complained that people have been criticizing government for the 2.5 percent VAT increase but the price hike on some goods is not because of that government decision.

Mr. Sinckler has also refuted suggestions that government wants to reduce the budget of the University of the West Indies.

However he insists students must adhere to higher standards.

BLP candidate for Christ Church West in the upcoming general election, Dr Maria Agard believes that the upcoming by-election in St John is a referendum on many of the economic and social issues facing Barbados.

She made the comments at the launch of the Barbados Labour Party’s campaign.

Dr Agard charged that St John is probably the poorest parish in Barbados, and she accused the DLP of promising much but delivering little in the constituency.

DLP Senator, Jepter Ince says Barbadians can expect to see economic growth later this year.

Senator Ince was addressing the large crowd gathered at the Gall Hill Community Centre for the launch of the DLP campaign for candidate Mara Thompson.

He says the present government has done a fantastic job of stabilising the economy.

Former BLP parliamentarian Delisle Bradshaw has taken issue with suggestions that his party did nothing for the parish of St. John.

He refuted that notion during a political meeting at Edgecliff to introduce the BLP’s candidate for the constituency, Hudson Griffith.

Mr. Bradshaw says as deputy chairman of the Rural Development Commission he was involved in several projects, from housing to roads, that benefitted the constituency.

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