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Barbados Elects Leader From Opposition
Real estate news By ROSEANN PILE
Jan 16, 2008
The opposition swept to power, winning at least 20 of the 30 seats in Barbados' legislature, according to election results Wednesday. David Thompson of the Democratic Labor Party was expected to be sworn in as prime minister on Thursday after a recount in the close race for one seat. Barbados Labor Party had been seeking a fourth consecutive term in government in Tuesday's election. It took power in September 1994 under outgoing Prime Minister Owen Arthur.
A spokesman for Thompson's party, Reudon Eversley, attributed the win to young Barbadians who felt that rising costs had squeezed them out of the real estate market in the former British colony. "We are naturally elated to be coming back to power after 14 years in the opposition," he said.
Both parties pledged to cut taxes and create jobs during the campaign. The opposition had also promised to create low-income housing for 2,500 people during its first term. Arthur had accused his rivals of taking campaign donations from the government of Taiwan to persuade Barbados to switch diplomatic allegiance from China. The opposition rejected that charge.
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