Barrow and Bradley battle in Queen’s Square
Until a few months ago the race in Queen’s Square was considered a walkover, with perennial incumbent Dean Barrow having a lifetime lease on the solidly U.D.P. seat. But when lawyer and well known talk show host Dickie Bradley declared for the P.U.P. in the division, suddenly what was considered a non-event began to attract some interest. Patrick Jones spoke to both candidates as part of our continuing coverage of “Elections ’98”.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, P.U.P., Queen’s Square
“We have been saying that first of all in going house to house, in speaking with the voters, in speaking with the residents, we have found out in fact over the past five years the number one concern is, Dickie, when you get elected, please mek sure we see yuh; please come around so that we could discuss issues with you.”
Dean Barrow, U.D.P., Queen’s Square
“My personal relationship with my constituents is such that in fact the level of confidence in my candidacy takes care of pretty much everything.”
Q: “After August twenty seventh, if you’re elected, what can, not only Queen’s Square, but also the country expect from Richard Bradley the representative?”
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
Well first let us say that among the many things that we have publicly committed ourselves to do for Queen’s Square is that there will be a committee made up of a wide cross section of residents living in Queen’s Square. A citizen’s committee to look at issues affecting Queen’s Square residents from day to day, from week to week, from month to month. Matters that can be tackled by the residents, we will tackle those. Matters that need some involvement by either municipal government or central government we will involve the central government and the municipal government.”
Dean Barrow
“In terms of the party, I think in Queen’s Square, the issue is, as the campaign slogan reflects, all about trust. People in that division are very distrustful of the P.U.P. People are very much scared by some of the tactics that they have seen at the National Assembly, at the Commission of Inquiry, during the Courtenay trial. They feel that there is a degree of bullying, a degree of arrogance, a degree of desperation on the part of the P.U.P., which makes the Queen’s Square constituency think that if they ever got into power, some kind of dictatorship would be created.”
Q: “Mr. Barrow, your opponent, is a veteran at electoral politics. Do you think that Richard Bradley has what it takes to overcome Dean Barrow in the polls on August twenty seventh?”
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
“Yes, it’s a simple matter. It’s a question of what has Mr. Barrow done as area representative over the past fourteen years and particularly over the last five years. As we were saying earlier in regards to issues, the hostel football field for fourteen years nothing has been done by Mr. Barrow as area representative. It is a sand area; there is no grass, there is not one bench he has put there. Over the years he could have little by little put seating facilities at that area.”
Q: “You’re going head to head with Richard Bradley, who will come out ahead?”
Dean Barrow
“Patrick on a very, very serious note, it really is no contest. I mean, I have to this point in time absolutely ignored Dickie Bradley. He continues to be vulgar, to attack my campaigners, to attack myself at the personal level. I refuse to respond. I will continue to ignore him because he really is not a factor.”
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
“He will have a rude awakening on the twenty seventh of August. If you listen to how he’s talking he sounds hysterical. That is not the Barrow who is poised and polished; this is a man who has realized, yes he has neglected these people.
In fact, Patrick I am shocked and actually outraged, as are many people in the division, that Mr. Barrow is engaging in outright attempts to bribe voters now. That they are actually going around, giving money in the hopes that this will compensate for the years of abandonment and the failure to address the human needs of people in this division. I want him not to take me seriously; the voters are taking me seriously. That is what counts.”
Don’t forget to join News Five all day and night on August twenty seventh as we team up with Love FM for complete live coverage of “Elections ’98”.
