the democratic labour party (dlp) is a political party which was founded in barbados in 1955 by errol barrow. it was the ruling party of barbados 3 times after barbados became independent on 30 november 1966. it first ruled the country and the nation of barbados from 30 november 1966 to 8 september 1976 under errol barrow and then from 29 may 1986 to 7 september 1994 first again under errol barrow from 29 may 1986 until his death on 1 june 1987. barrow’s than deputy prime minister, erskine sandiford succeeded him as prime minister of barbados on 1 june 1987. erskine sandiford served as the 4th prime minister of barbados from 1 june 1987 to 7 september 1994. the democratic labour party rulled the country and the nation of barbados for a third time form 15 january 2008 to 24 may 2018. it first rulled under david thompson (barbadian politician) from 15 january 2008 to 23 october 2010 and then under freundel stuart from 23 october 2010 to 24 may 2018, but faced an electoral wipeout and a crushing, traumatic and unexpecteble defeat in the 2018 barbadian general election which left it with no member of parliament’s.