BARBADOS-ELECTIONS-Anglican priest urges Barbadians not to sell their votes

Barbadians preparing to elect a new government on May 24 have been urged not to sell their votes and instead use critical thinking in choosing their next legislators.

Archdeacon Eric Lynch, delivering the sermon at the annual thanksgiving service ahead of Tuesday’s May Day celebrations here, said that Barbadians had much to think about when they go to the polling booths to vote for candidates contesting the elections.

“It would not simply be displeasing to God, but it would be disrespectful of our God if, in the immediate future, anyone of you sold your vote. You were bought with a price, the price being Christ’s own blood. No vote selling by any of you,” Lynch said as he spoke at the headquarters of the Barbados Workers Union (BWU).

“Rather, consider those who would present themselves and their manifestos carefully, using critical thinking with which the Lord has blessed you and consider whom you would vote for. The inducement must be to do God’s will as you understand that will. There must be no vote buying.”

Nomination Day is scheduled for May 7 and political observers say the election will be a straight fight between the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), whose leader, Mia Mottley who is seeking to become the first woman to head a government in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

In the last general election held in 2013, the DLP won 16 of the 30 seats in the Parliament.

Archdeacon Lynch, who is also BWU chaplain, reminded those attending the church service, including Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, Labour Minister Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo as well as opposition members that people were bought with Christ’s own blood and therefore we are not up for sale.

“Our brothers and sisters were for sale not far from here, beside St Mary’s Anglican Church, Jubilee Gardens, which was the centre of commercial activity for the entire Western Hemisphere. That shows how important Barbados was. Not again, my brothers and sisters.

“The future we want is a future where we can stand as God’s people, brothers and sisters of each other, and look each other in the eye and bless persons for doing God’s will,” Archdeacon Lynch said.

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