“RISE up, get, up , speak up and if you cant find your voice, tell me and I’ll speak for you.”
Those were the words from President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla De Peiza who was speaking at a Christ Church zone meeting held at the Deighton Griffith School on Sunday night, where she lamented that there is a culture of fear developing in the country and persons are afraid to speak out.
Speaking on the topic “A Cry of the People: A Thorough Analysis of our National Situation,” De Peiza opined that Barbadians are being “slaughtered” on the “alter of economic expedience”, to the point where the cries of the people are rising daily.
“I am a little different in that I do not hold it against our people for what happened in May 2018. I am prepared to let by-gones be by-gones and to stand up on behalf of the people because if ever they need a voice it is now. Despite all of the negativity and the naysaying and all the talk about how badly the economy was being run at the end of the day there was a greater amount of money in the pockets of working people and the ability to provide for their families.”
As she rallied the DLP troops to action, she suggested that for those “standing outside”, there is room inside the DLP. “There is room in the inside of the DLP for you. You can walk through the door this minute and be accommodated. I understand though that the culture of fear that is enveloping this country will stop some people. Whilst I understand, I do not endorse it. because if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.”
“If it there is one thing I am willing to martyr my soul for it is my country Barbados. Because its development is near and dear to my heart.”
She told the party faithful that they must continue to agitate for the people of Barbados.
“We have to step up, that is our job. We do not expect the other side to praise [us] for it. We have to get on with the business of the people in the way that we know how. And I call on each and everyone of you in your constituencies, community, party to get on board and get with the programme. Many hands do make light work and once we are underpinned by the philosophy and principles of the DLP which are unshaken regardless of circumstance then we will all be marching to the same tune.”
“People matter. People have to feel like there is a plan for them if not we will slide further into anarchy. It is for us to produce those policies that the people want and are crying out for. It is for us to give them that hope and courage that is lacking in Barbados today. It is for us to get our act together get ourselves disciplined. Get with the programme and work diligently to bring Barbados back to the standard that we know we can reach. And we owe it to our founding fathers.”
She urged those in attendance not to be mamaguyed by the BLP into believing that there was a lost decade under the DLP. She encouraged them to refamiliarise themselves with the DLP’s Progress Report which was created during the 2018 election campaign.
De Peiza said the time for “wound-licking” is over. “Stand up and be counted, take your licks like a man. Steel your back and press forward. Because the mark and vision before us, the only goal is to see this country go forward.”