Barbados: Female Lawyer Elected Leader of Main Opposition Party

Another attorney-at-law, Verla De Peiza, has taken the helms of Barbados' Democratic Labour Party, or DLP, as the party attempts to rebuild from a 30-nil trouncing at the polls in May. She is replacing former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who resigned from his post following the election defeat.

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De Peiza was elected unopposed as DLP president on the final day of the party’s two-day 63rd annual general conference, according to Caribbean 360.

“This party is bigger than us. This party has a responsibility to this country, and we are equal to that task,” De Peiza said in her first speech as party leader.

“There is, without doubt, a mammoth task ahead of us… We have to repair breaches internally and externally, and because I have no interest in wallowing in the wilderness for longer than is absolutely necessary, we must step up and act and address these matters frontally without fear, without favor.”

Former Parliamentary Secretary in the previous DLP administration, Irene Sandiford-Garner, who was also elected First Vice President, has vowed to support the new leader of the party.

Others elected during the vote included: Nicholas Alleyne (Second Vice President); George Connolly (Third Vice President); Andre Worrell (Fourth Vice President); and Frank Firebrace (treasurer).

Attorney-at-law Guyson Mayers is the new General Secretary, replacing George Pilgrim who stepped down from that post after serving for ten years, according to Caribbean 360.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) won the country's 2018 General Elections claiming all 30 seats in the House of Assembly and unseating the DLP, which has governed since 2008.