Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Ralph Thorne has launched a formal challenge against the timing of Barbados’ February 11 general election, alleging procedural violations by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC). Speaking at a party rally on Saturday, Thorne revealed that official correspondence indicates the EBC’s statutory deadline for delivering an updated voter registry extends to January 31—three weeks after the election announcement.
Thorne characterized the premature election call as having ‘thrown the whole electoral process into disarray,’ noting the commission has failed to convene since the election declaration. A scheduled meeting was subsequently canceled, raising questions about administrative preparedness for an election that wasn’t constitutionally mandated until 2027.
The opposition leader detailed significant irregularities within the current voter list, including the DLP’s formal protest against 8,291 problematic registrations. Notably, one of the party’s own candidates appeared incorrectly on the list, while numerous citizens reportedly found themselves excluded entirely. Thorne disclosed that even close relatives of former Prime Minister David Thompson (deceased) have been mysteriously removed from voter rolls despite being resident in Barbados.
Further anomalies include family members appearing in separate constituencies and insufficient rectification timelines. Thorne condemned the one-day window for resolving discrepancies as fundamentally inadequate, though he encouraged supporters to visit DLP offices for assistance with registration issues.
Thorne raised serious concerns about the commission’s independence, suggesting external manipulation may be influencing its operations. ‘The commission is not being allowed to be,’ he stated, implying deliberate interference with electoral preparations.
Despite these challenges, Thorne affirmed the DLP’s commitment to full participation in the electoral process, confirming all 30 party candidates are actively campaigning within their respective constituencies.