In a forceful address at the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) national rally in Independence Square, St Michael North candidate Dawn-Marie Armstrong launched a comprehensive critique of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration. The former national cricketer and sport psychologist asserted that systemic neglect of community infrastructure has directly crippled sports development and youth engagement, creating a vacuum that fuels rising crime rates across the island.
Armstrong outlined a stark vision for reform, pledging that a DLP government elected on February 11 would abandon what she condemned as superficial tokenism and ad-hoc tournaments. Instead, her party would institute a professionally structured sports framework designed for long-term sustainability. This new approach would guarantee athletes proper wages and establish clear pathways for professional development.
Central to her proposal is the strategic reopening and modernization of community centers, which she identified as critical hubs for positive social intervention. Armstrong revealed an innovative technological component to this plan: the development of a dedicated national app to facilitate universal access to these facilities. This digital platform would enable young people to seek mentorship, allow women to secure safe recreational spaces for children, and provide athletes with direct booking capabilities for training sessions.
Beyond sports, Armstrong highlighted broader governance issues, condemning excessive bureaucratic barriers and political gatekeeping in constituency development. She shared anecdotes from St Michael North residents who reported needing formal permission from parliamentary representatives for basic infrastructure like street lighting. Promising a radical departure from this system, Armstrong committed to eliminating these political obstacles, ensuring communities can directly pursue development initiatives without administrative interference.
The DLP candidate positioned these policies as essential measures for crime reduction, arguing that structured community engagement through sports and accessible facilities would provide positive alternatives for at-risk youth, particularly young men.