Both the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and Member of Parliament Dwight Sutherland have dismissed as “malicious” a letter purporting to be calling for him to be removed from the St George South constituency.
The “urgent plea for intervention and restoration of integrity in St George South” was addressed to the former President of Barbados The Most Honourale Dame Sandra Mason, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and BLP general secretary The Most Honourable Senator Jerome Walcott, and supposedly sent from the constituency and “the diaspora”, with the author(s) claiming to be spokesperson for deeply concerned, law-abiding citizens in the constituency.
However, the BLP said “no such correspondence has been received by the Prime Minister or the general secretary” in relation to the anonymous document circulating on social media.
“The content of the letter is absolute rubbish, and it is a scurrilous and unwarranted attack on Mr Dwight Sutherland, a long-standing member of the BLP, and a valued parliamentary representative.
“It is to be expected that more documents such as this, penned by anonymous persons, will be circulated.
Barbadians should expect much more fake news in the near future,” stated yesterday’s BLP release signed by Walcott.
Sutherland, who was found in his constituency yesterday evening attending an activity at Melverton Christian Mission, told the Daily Nation he left the matter in the hands of the BLP executive to respond and “that it is malicious news”.
When asked about being a candidate whenever the next General Election is called, he said he would be running.
“Yes, of course, persons have been asking if I would be running and I said I would be running again and again and again, so that’s no question. That’s all I have to say and the party would deal with the malicious news,” he added.
The letter said the situation in the constituency had escalated beyond mere political disagreement into a crisis of confidence that “comprises the safety and integrity of our community”.
It added in part: “We respectfully and urgently petition your offices to facilitate the immediate resignation of Dr Dwight Sutherland as representative for St George South. Furthermore, we implore the Barbados Labour Party to revoke his candidacy, ensuring he cannot stand [for] future public office under its banner.” (AC)
