00:00Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Motley has announced plans for anti-defection legislation that would require MPs to seek a
00:07new mandate if they switch parties.
00:09The proposal follows the 2024 defection of Ralph Thornton from the Barbados Labor Party to lead the Democratic Labor Party.
00:18More details with Krista Hoyte.
00:23Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Motley says her government will introduce anti-defection legislation aimed at preventing members of Parliament
00:31from crossing the floor without seeking a fresh mandate from voters.
00:36The announcement came as she was sworn in for the third consecutive term.
00:39Raised by members of the Parliamentary Party who felt that if you are prepared to break, whether voluntarily or by
00:47whatever means, that you should go back to the polls and allow people to be able to validate your decision.
00:54The proposed law follows the 2024 defection of Ralph Thornton who crossed the floor from the BLP to become leader
01:01of the Democratic Labor Party.
01:02Prime Minister Amor Motley argued that MPs elected under a party banner should return to the electorate if they change
01:09affiliation.
01:10If you are prepared to break, whether voluntarily or by whatever means, that you should go back to the polls
01:18and allow people to be able to validate your decision.
01:21Because in our system, while formally there is no recognition of political parties, the de facto reality is that people
01:29run on a political party ticket.
01:32If passed, the legislation would require defecting MPs to resign and contest by elections.
01:39The Prime Minister also renewed her offer to allocate Senate seats to the Democratic Labor Party.
01:44I did it once, I did it twice, and I will do it three times.
01:50They must be given a voice in the Senate, and it is up to the Democratic Labor Party again.
01:55I trust and pray that they will do what the country expects of them, to be able to appoint two
02:02persons.
02:03Bristol Hoyt, Tyler Sir, Bridgetown, Barbados.
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