DLP Executive Council Postpones Vote on Thorne Application Admidst Push Back

The Executive Council of the Democratic Labour Party has postponed a vote on Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne’s application to join the party following a heated discussion on the matter.

Sources who were in the meeting tell Starcom Network News that there is a section of the party that feels very strongly about what has occurred in the lead-up to Mr. Thorne’s attempt to rejoin the party and several of those people were likely to have voted against the application.

Mr. Thorne, the Member of Parliament for Christ Church South, recently split from the ruling Barbados Labour Party and declared his intention to rejoin the DLP for which he ran as a general election candidate on two occasions.

DLP Sources tell Starcom Network News that the meeting to review the application began about 4 30 pm and there were two and a half hours of often heated discussion on the matter.

Those sources say there is a view that Mr. Thorne failed to properly consult with the current party leadership about his proposed cross-over and especially about his Senate picks.

Those sources strongly believe that the DLP President Dr. Ronnie Yearwood should have been allowed some input on the selection of the two opposition Senators.

It is Starcom’s understanding that with the application discussions deadlocked, DLP stalwart Reverend David Durant, acting in the role of mediator tabled a resolution proposing that the vote be postponed to allow for what’s been described as a sit-down discussion between Mr. Thorne and the Party’s leadership, a discussion that the sources allege has not taken place and should have and must now take place prior to any vote on Mr. Thorne’s bid to rejoin the party, which would make him its political leader.

Starcom understands that 23 of the 24 members of the DLP executive council attended the meeting and that while Mr. Thorne has the support of several key DLP stalwarts there is also very strong support among members of the council for the President Dr. Ronnie Yearwood.

Dr. Yearwood and DLP General Secretary, Steve Blackett, were noticeably absent when Mr. Thorne handed in his application at DLP Headquarters.