Nicholls signals infrastructure focus after St Thomas nomination

Barbados Labour Party candidate for St Thomas, Gregory Nicholls, says rebuilding the constituency’s ageing infrastructure and protecting its environment will be among his top priorities as the campaign moves into full gear.

Nicholls was speaking to the media on Nomination Day at the Duncan C. Moore Centre, Sharon Moravian Church, after being formally nominated to contest the seat.

Describing the start to his campaign as “very good,” Nicholls praised his campaign team and supporters for their turnout and momentum, while noting that canvassing efforts were ongoing across the constituency.

“We still have a lot of ground to cover. There are almost 12,000 voters in St Thomas, which makes it one of the larger constituencies in Barbados,” he said, adding that while major canvassing took place over the weekend, teams would continue their outreach during the week and intensify efforts on weekends.

Nicholls acknowledged that complaints about the poor state of roads continue to be one of the most consistent concerns raised by residents. He said, however, that significant work was already under way to address long-standing infrastructural challenges.

“St Thomas has suffered from deferred infrastructure for many years, particularly where roads are concerned,” he said. “But the good news is that many of these roads are not just being resurfaced, they are being structurally rebuilt to be more resilient.”

He explained that the constituency’s terrain, much of it located in old plantation areas with deep compacted soil, required more advanced engineering solutions. According to Nicholls, major drainage works, including deep wells and trenches, are being installed to address persistent flooding issues in areas such as Bridgefield and Johnson.

“These roads are being rebuilt for the future, and while it will take time, I will continue to advocate for the best outcomes for the people of St Thomas,” he said.

Nicholls also raised concerns about illegal dumping, which he described as a serious threat to the constituency’s gullies and Barbados’ wider groundwater system.

“The gullies are the heartbeat of St Thomas. Illegal dumping threatens our cave networks, aquifers and underground springs,” he said, calling for stricter enforcement, incentives for reporting offenders, and harsher penalties to deter the practice.

Beyond infrastructure and environmental protection, Nicholls said employment, youth engagement, education, and the revitalisation of community life through churches and community groups were also critical issues that needed attention.

Addressing recent statements suggesting legal action to halt the upcoming election, Nicholls dismissed the idea as legally unsound, noting that under Barbados’ constitutional framework, challenges to an election can only be heard after it has taken place.

“The notion that a court can stop an election due to registration issues is not known to our common law system,” he said, describing such claims as a political tactic rather than a legitimate legal argument.