Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne has officially announced his candidacy for the constituency of St John.
The political leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) at the same time told the public fellow attorney Corey Greenidge was ratified to contest the Christ Church South riding he would be vacating.
Thorne ended months of speculation during a media conference this morning at the Thomas Daniel Building. He said it was only fitting that both be announced at the same time.
“Further to many requests which began last year in 2024, I’ve made the decision to contest in St John so that it is not an individual decision. I feel honoured that many persons in St John asked me to contest the next election in that constituency and I am happy to accept, although with mixed feelings, in having to leave Christ Church South,” Thorne said.
“In light of that, obviously, would be the question of Christ Church South and I’m very, very happy to introduce in a sense our candidate in the next election, Mr Corey Greenidge, who as you’ve heard is an attorney at law.”
Thorne said when he appeared in the House of Assembly for every sitting, he did so as the candidate for Christ Church South, which he has been representing since 2018. He crossed the floor from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) last February,
“… My work in Christ Church South continues, and as it turns out, I will have to be working in St John as well. I can assure you that I am not daunted by the task and I will continue to do my work in Christ Church South and I will proceed upon my political work in St John.”
He defended his record in the constituency, itemising in detail some of the work that was accomplished, including a summer camp programme, green spaces, roads that were fixed and repairs to the Berinda Cox Fish Market.
Thorne said even as a member of the ruling party, he represented the residents of St Lawrence who were protesting the construction of a marina in their community and the concomitant land acquisition.
“I had the courage, if I may say so myself, I had the courage to oppose the government’s plans in relation to that and we succeeded. Together with those plans had been also a proposal to acquire lands, private lands in the vicinity of that St Lawrence swamp and we fought against that as well. I will be double checking to see with the ministry to see where those plans for compulsory acquisition stand but we fought the government on that,” he added.
Not everything was a success, however. He expressed frustration at not being able to get more done for the fisherfolk, including the construction of a slip for boats, payment for vendors and work on a playing field at Carter’s Gap.
The Opposition Leader gave the nod to his successor Greenidge, saying he could not “go ahead and name myself and leave Christ Church South without some future prospect of representation, so I’m extremely happy that Corey Greenidge has been ratified”.
“Corey, I’m extremely happy that a person of your quality will be the representative for Christ Church South at the next election. I am absolutely confident that with your quality, with your sense of humanity, your sense of compassion, your sense of civility, that you will succeed in this constituency. I know the constituency well, and I’m absolutely certain that you will be a success,” Thorne said. (SAT)
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