Former president of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood says he is not involved in a new political pressure group formed by more than 300 disaffected former members of the party.
The group, announced earlier this week by former DLP general secretary Steve Blackett, is expected to host a series of public meetings aimed at contributing to national discourse on key issues. Blackett had indicated that Yearwood was among those leading the initiative.
However, in response to queries from this newspaper about his role and the group’s next steps, Yearwood made it clear he was not part of the movement.
“I am not a co-founder of the political pressure group nor am I involved in any of its upcoming public engagements,” he said.
The formation of the group follows growing internal dissatisfaction within the DLP, which culminated in Yearwood’s separation from the party last year amid deepening divisions over leadership and strategy. His removal, along with that of Blackett and other former executive members, fuelled speculation about a potential splinter movement or new political entity emerging from the rift.
While Blackett has not ruled out a formal political future for the group, he described it as a platform to “rebuild trust” among disillusioned party members and engage the public on governance and policy matters. The group’s first public meeting is expected to take place today.