BLP told ‘get out the way!’

The members of Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) are being told to disabuse their minds of the notion that the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is going to hand them the government.

In a fiery address on Sunday night at the official opening of the DLP’s St. Michael North constituency office, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and the party’s St. Michael North West candidate, Christopher Sinckler rallied the troops, as he made it clear that after working hard to keep the country strong in the face of the recession, the Freundel Stuart-led administration was prepared to fight to finish the work they have started.

“This is not like 1994. They waiting for us to hand them a government, they got to fight for it, because we are going in every nook and cranny in Barbados and speaking to the people of Barbados. So when this Democratic Labour Party caravan hits the road, when the people’s army hits the road, be prepared. You know what Grynner say? Get out the way. Get out the way Mottley; get out the way Symmonds; get out the way Bradshaw; get out the way Toppin, the people’s army is coming for Barbados and Barbadians, so that we can continue to lift our country up. And I pray to God that the Prime Minister at the right time will call the elections so we can wash them off in licks,” he said to cheers from the crowd.

Describing the DLP as a leader among institutions in the Caribbean, Sinckler said that that party of free secondary education, free health care, national insurance and workmen’s compensation, has been at the forefront of social and economic transformation of Barbados, the likes of which has not been seen anywhere else in the developing world. He made the point while stating that when the DLP came into office in 2008, it was faced with the greatest world recession since the Great Depression, but they have managed to handle it. The finance minister said his Government held the hands of Barbadians and stood firm in the breach, even when many fell by the wayside and many predicted that Barbados was finished.

“We have stood in the breach and kept Barbados together, but you know why we were able to do it? Not only because of the sound, astute leadership of Freundel Stuart and the members of his Cabinet in Barbados… we were able to do it because you the people of Barbados came within, and we took you in our confidence amidst the noise and the barking and the hollering and the tearing down of Barbados. You stood by us and we stood by you and we are Barbados strong and going forward,” the St. Michael North West candidate added.

During his speech which lasted just over 30 minutes, Sinckler referred to a recent meeting of the BLP where its Leader, Mia Mottley reportedly told those gathered they would not just vote for an MP, they would get a PM [Prime Minister], and chided the Opposition Leader charging that “if greedy wait, hot would cool”.

“The office of Prime Minister in the constitutional arrangements of Barbados’ liberal democracy is such a supreme and important office, sitting at the pinnacle of a government structure, with many powers, authorities and responsibilities that it is not to be taken flippantly. It is not like a glass of Hennessy brandy at Reggae on the Beach, please pass the brandy; bring some drinks somebody will pay. It is not that type of thing, it is a serious office for serious people who prepare themselves first by disciplining themselves first in the school of humility,” he argued.

Sinckler maintained that if anyone who aspires to the office of Prime Minister of Barbados cannot discipline themselves enough to wait; it is incumbent on the voters of Barbados to instil some discipline in them. He added it is the voters’ duty to make them understand that the office of Prime Minister is not to be trifled with.

“It is the prime trophy, it is the sacred thrust, it is the bond between the people and that representative of the Almighty here in the temporal on earth to lead people,” he stated.