DLP submission a ‘troubling misstep’

The process to appoint Opposition representatives to the Senate seems to have hit a snag after the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) submitted two nominees to President The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, despite a formal request for three or four names.

Former Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne and Ryan Walters were the only individuals put forward by the party, a move that has effectively placed the selection process on hold.

In a late development yesterday evening, the Weekend Nation understands that at least two other political parties were invited to submit potential nominees to sit in the Upper House, raising the prospect of a broader political mix in the Senate of Barbados. It is understood that candidates from Friends of Democracy and the People’s Coalition for Progress could now be in the running for a seat at the table in the Senate.

When contacted last night, political scientist Devaron Bruce said the decision to submit fewer names than requested by the President signalled a troubling misstep by the DLP at a time when its political leverage was limited.

“If indeed it is the case that the Democratic Labour Party submitted only two names despite the President asking for three or four, it clearly suggests an attempt to manipulate a process at a time when, in my view, they have very little negotiating power,” Bruce said.

“When a Head of State asks for a range of nominees, the expectation is that you comply. By not doing so, the party has effectively handed the President greater flexibility and opened the door for alternative political forces to gain a foothold in the Senate.”

Bruce said the development could significantly reshape how opposition voices are represented in Parliament.

“We may very well see a situation where the official voice of the Opposition in the Senate is not drawn from the Democratic Labour Party,” he added. “That would be politically significant. It would reflect not just the presence of smaller or alternative parties, but also a shifting balance of influence within the country’s political landscape.”

While speculation has emerged about whether the DLP’s submission was intended to influence Thorne’s chances of appointment, Bruce said the central issue was the party’s failure to provide the full list requested.

“The question is not necessarily who they were trying to exclude or protect. The real issue is why they did not provide the President with the number of names requested, thereby allowing for a proper exercise of choice. It raises serious concerns about the party’s ability to navigate the political realities it now faces.”

Attention has now turned to potential nominees from smaller political movements, including the Friends of Democracy and the People’s Coalition for Progress. Bruce said among those who could be considered were Karina Goodridge, Kemar Stewart and Lynette Eastmond, all of whom were active on the recent political landscape.

Bruce said the final outcome could involve a combination of representation from the DLP and alternative parties but he warned the situation highlighted deeper structural challenges within the opposition.

“What we are seeing is a party that appears unable to effectively negotiate, navigate or tread the political terrain of Barbados at this time. The immediate question is who gets appointed. The larger question is where the Democratic Labour Party goes from here.”

Political scientist Dr Kristina Hinds also weighed in on this issue, saying that such a development would be notable, particularly given the limited reach of some of the parties now being discussed.

“It would be interesting if the President goes in this direction, as the Friends of Democracy and the People’s Coalition Party are not mass-based parties,” Hinds said. “A Senate appointment from either of these could offer the party much-needed credibility.”

Hinds noted that the Senate appointments could also serve as an opportunity to expand political participation and visibility for emerging organisations. (TRY)

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