In a significant campaign address, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Ralph Thorne has unveiled an ambitious development agenda for St John constituency, positioning infrastructure modernization as central to his electoral platform. Speaking at the party’s national manifesto launch in Gall Hill, Thorne declared the parish deserves substantial national investment due to its historical contributions to Barbadian leadership.
Thorne presented a comprehensive vision to transform St John into a commercial, educational, and social hub, with specific focus on developing Four Roads as an economic center. He highlighted concerning infrastructure regression, noting the reduction of gas stations from three to one as evidence of systemic underdevelopment. “St John is not as infrastructurally developed as it should be,” Thorne asserted before his supporters.
The DLP leader made an impassioned appeal for national support in redirecting public resources toward parish development, citing St John’s legacy of producing prominent figures including National Hero Errol Walton Barrow and former Prime Minister David Thompson. His proposal includes enhancing existing public services such as fire stations and post offices while expanding business opportunities throughout the constituency.
Educational infrastructure emerged as another critical priority, with Thorne noting the alarming decline of primary schools from five to two, forcing children to undertake lengthy daily commutes. He committed to constructing a modern primary school facility to ensure educational equity for St John’s children alongside the existing Lodge secondary school.
Healthcare reform features prominently in Thorne’s agenda, addressing resident concerns about limited operating hours at the local polyclinic that create unnecessary pressure on Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He pledged to upgrade the facility to a 24-hour operation, envisioning it as “the shining star of polyclinics in Barbados.”
Recreational facilities also received attention, with Thorne noting the parish’s single playing field compared to multiple venues elsewhere. He framed these development initiatives as rightful compensation for St John’s historical contributions to national progress, emphasizing: “There’s a debt that is owed to this parish, Barbados.”
The broader DLP national manifesto addresses economy, housing, crime, cost of living, and healthcare, positioning St John’s development as microcosm of the party’s national vision for Barbados.