(Barbados Nation) Mia Mottley, former leader of the Barbados Labour Party, says she will not be taking part in any tainted election process to select the party’s chairman.
In a charged atmosphere of the Deighton Griffith Secondary School yesterday, the second day of the BLP’s 72nd annual conference, Mottley described the election as a “side show” and withdrew her nomination.
The incumbent George Payne remains the party chairman.
St Thomas MP Cynthia Forde also withdrew her nomination and surrendered her position as general secretary to St Lucy candidate Peter Phillips.
Mottley said the 72nd annual conference should be regarded as the moment in time when the the legacy of Sir Grantley Adams be honoured and democracy returned to the BLP.
Before an audience which did not include the leader of the party Owen Arthur, Mottley noted section 36 [a] of the party’s constitution which states that only one of every ten branch members should be allowed to vote as a delegate at the conference. But, she added that the time had come where every member of the party should have the right to vote, whether for chairman, general secretary or any other position.
Mottley also revealed several instances of irregularities which had occurred over the past months within the party.
