Dr Lynette Holder has thrown her hat into the ring as a nominee for the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) St Michael Central riding.
She told the DAILY NATION yesterday she has received a number of calls from constituents who knew of her previous interest in St Michael Central and they also wanted to feel they were playing a part in the selection process, scheduled for January 15 at Combermere School.
Holder, who served as president of the St Michael North East branch for more than a decade, said this brought her into contact with the full St Michael zone, but it was St Michael Central where a number of relationships were formed and they knew of her interest, even before incumbent, Speaker of the House of Assembly Arthur Holder, got the nod 13 years ago.
“Persons who knew this contacted me when they realised that a nomination was being held, but they weren’t given options . . . ,” said the chief executive officer of the Small Business Association, adding it was something she pondered for some time before stepping forward.
“I recognised that we have to protect democracy and therefore that is what it’s about for me. Irrespective of the outcome – it has nothing to do with the outcome – it is that democracy must prevail.
“We cannot have a situation where in a party over 80 years and in 2026 when democracy is being talked about and good governance and all that, that we don’t have a forum where persons feel as if their voice, their vote matters. So that led me to make a decision that there must be an option given to the constituents.”
Holder, who is in her mid-50s, is a former senator who served in various capacities in the BLP, including the National Council, where she rose to the position of assistant general secretary. She is the current president of the City of Bridgetown Cooperative Credit Union.
“You talk to your family and all that, but making the decision wasn’t that difficult because I want to see that democracy prevails in the party and persons felt . . . ‘We don’t want a situation where someone is being thrust upon us. We want to have a say in who we vote for, to represent us going forward’, and so that is it really. It is really about democracy.”
Last Saturday, during the annual children’s party hosted in conjunction with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley (St Michael North East) in the National Botanical Gardens, the incumbent, Arthur Holder, said he would not be returning.
“I have represented them for the past 13 years but I became involved with the constituency from 2007 when former representative Ishmael Roett introduced me to the party’s executive when he decided he was not running again. He was always a pillar of support to me and it was an honour to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
Holder said he wrote all of the relevant people in the party and also threw his support behind newcomer Tyra Trotman, who joined the BLP in 2024 after leaving the Democratic Labour Party.
“I also informed them that I would support the person who wins the nomination and I personally fully support Tyra Trotman, who is another Combermerian,” he added.
Lynette Holder did not say anything about Trotman.
“It would have been good if there were even more people who came forward, that is the truth. As you know, I mean, I ain’t come off the streets. I’ve been in the party, now as a member for more than 20 years, more than two decades.
“I carry the scars of being a member of this Barbados Labour Party. I know what it is to have been called all kind of stuff, to go through all kinds of valley experiences, triumphs, yes, but some challenges,” she said.
Mottley has indicated elections are not far away, and in recent months the BLP ratified attorney Gregory Nicholls in St Thomas and engineer Ryan Brathwaite in St Joseph to replace backbencher Cynthia Forde and Attorney General Dale Marshall, respectively. (SAT)
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