Fri | Mar 29, 2024

Barbadians voting in historic clash between women-led parties

Published:Wednesday | January 19, 2022 | 10:12 AM
Prime Minister Mia Mottley's Barbados Labour  Party is in a straight fight with Verla De Peiza's Democratic Labour Party in the election called 18 months ahead of the constitutional deadline.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados:
Barbadians are voting for a new government three and a half years after they overwhelming elected the Barbados Labour  Party (BLP).

It is the first time in Barbados history that the two main political parties are being led into an election by a woman.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley's BLP is in a straight fight with Verla De Peiza's Democratic Labour Party (DLP) .

De Peiza, 50, became DLP leader in August 2018 after the disastrous general election when the Freundel Stuart led DLP administration lost all 30 seats in the Parliament.

In December, Mottley announced the today's election which has been called 18 months before the constitutional deadline, saying that she needed a unified country.

Barbados recently became the latest Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state to become a republic.

A total of 108 candidates, representing seven political parties and nine independents are contesting the poll.

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