U.S. political consultant not welcome in Barbados

Her name briefly surfaced during last year’s general election campaign in Belize and now a similar controversy is dogging Jennifer Laszlo across the Caribbean. Laszlo, a U.S. based political consultant with close ties to President Bill Clinton, caused a stir last year when it was discovered that she was negotiating with the United Democratic Party to act as an advisor on its re-election campaign. No deal was ever made. Today Laszlo is on the verge of being kicked out of Barbados as the government has turned down her request for an extension of her tourist visa. According to the Nation newspaper of Barbados, Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur has accused Laszlo of masterminding the election campaign of the Opposition Democratic Labour Party. D.L.P. Leader David Thompson has described her as a friend who was in Barbados more for pleasure than business. Whether Laszlo spent her time lying on the beach or pulling the political strings, it seems that she will soon be plying her trade on the Potomac rather than the Caribbean. The Barbados general election will be held on January twentieth.