By| Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS —The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has officially confirmed the resignation of Ralph Thorne as President and Political Leader. The announcement comes in the wake of the February 11 General Election, which saw the DLP fail to secure a single seat in the House of Assembly for the third consecutive time.
- A Period of Renewal: A senior party executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Barbados TODAY that the party has entered a phase of “renewal and refreshing.” The focus is now on restructuring the 69-year-old institution to chart a new path forward.
- Transition of Power: While a permanent successor has not been named, the DLP’s constitutional structure—featuring four vice-presidents—will ensure continuity.
- The Road Ahead: Leadership matters and a formal post-mortem of the election defeat are expected to take center stage at the party’s Annual Convention this August.
St. Lucian Nationals Caught in Middle East Crossfire; PM Pierre Expresses “Extreme Concern”
CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA — As the military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalates, Saint Lucians living and working in the Gulf region are reporting harrowing firsthand experiences.
- Eyewitness Accounts: Nationals in the UAE, Qatar, and Cyprus have shared footage with the St. Lucia Times showing missile interceptions and explosions. One Saint Lucian athlete reported being evacuated from the UAE as a safety precaution.
- Government Response: Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre addressed the situation during a pre-Cabinet briefing on Monday, expressing “extreme concern.”
- Evacuation & Support: The Ministry of External Affairs has been tasked with establishing contact with all registered Saint Lucians in the conflict zone. “Anything we can do to assist them, within our capabilities, we will do,” Pierre stated, acknowledging the high level of uncertainty facing citizens abroad.
U.S. Sinks Iranian Warship; Conflict Spreads to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Turkey
WASHINGTON D.C. / THE MIDDLE EAST — In a major escalation of hostilities, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship using a torpedo in international waters.
- The Scope of War: The conflict has rapidly decentralized. While the U.S. and Israel targeted Iranian assets and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, Iran launched strikes against Bahrain, Kuwait, and Israel.
- NATO Intervention: Turkey reported that NATO defenses successfully intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile before it entered Turkish airspace, narrowly avoiding a direct provocation of the alliance.
- U.S. Reinforcements: Secretary Hegseth announced that more American forces are being deployed to the region, asserting that the U.S. will take “all the time we need” to achieve its military objectives.
- Domestic Politics: In Washington, the Senate is moving to vote on a War Powers measure to require congressional approval for further strikes. However, the resolution faces stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress and a near-certain veto from President Trump.
