BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Tuesday defended its decision to boycott a sitting of Parliament accusing the ruling Democratic Party (DLP) of failing to follow tradition and announcing the date for a general election in Barbados.
“The Barbados Labour Party which won the right to vote for all Barbadians of qualifying age, has always respected and maintained the political tradition of allowing them to do so in a timely fashion. Until now, under all previous governments, voting to elect a new government had always taken place well within the five-year period for which they were elected,” said Dale Marshall, BLP Deputy Leader.
All nine opposition legislators were absent Parliament dealt with a resolution  to grant BDS$15.7 million (One Barbados dollar = US$0.50 cents) from the Consolidated Fund and to finance the provision of subsidized diesel to manufacturers, farmers, fisherfolk, public service vehicle operators and the Transport Board.