BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President Ralph Thorne indicated he was stepping down from the leadership of the party following its third successive 30–nil seat loss to the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), conceding that although the result was “very disappointing”, the 70-year-old party remained “resourceful” and would rebuild without him at the helm.
“I want to say that the party came back after the obvious difficulties of two years ago. We came back, and we fought together. We were united, and the people of Barbados understand. And I think we came out looking quite well. The result, as I said, is disappointing, but this party is very resourceful in going forward. Clearly, the time comes when I must pass it on to others. This is a democratic organisation. I do not write political will and a new leader will emerge, I’m sure in the fullness of time.”
He was speaking to reporters in the early Thursday at the DLP’s headquarters, surrounded by several of the party’s candidates, all of whom failed to end the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) ‘redwash’ of the 30 seats at stake in the House of Assembly and prevent the Mia Mottley-led party from achieving a ‘three-peat’ by again winning every constituency.
In 2018 and 2022, the DLP suffered 30–nil defeats at the hands of the BLP, which swept the polls in unprecedented victories. Thorne said the DLP set an example for the young people of Barbados by conducting a “clean” campaign.
“We fought the good fight, we finished the course, and we kept our faith, and we go forward. This party goes forward with the faith that what we do here is well done, and I also want to thank the Democratic Labour Party. I have had amazing comradeship around here, certainly within the team, a group of young men and young women who made for a good group dynamic. We had an excellent group dynamic. When you saw us in public, and even here tonight, expressing affection, it was often quite genuine affection. So I want to thank the party for being a good party, and its work must continue.”
Thorne, who won the Christ Church South seat under a BLP ticket in the 2022 poll and crossed the floor in 2024, contested the St John constituency, the seat once considered a DLP stronghold.
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