Caribbean News – From Sex Worker To MP?

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. Mar. 23, 2018: A prostitute in the Caribbean island of Barbados says she is quitting the ‘game’ for politics.

Natalie Nicole Shadica Harewood announced on social media that she decided to give up her profession as a prostitute on the island to run for a seat in the Barbados Parliament.

On a flyer posted on her Facebook page, which still contains explicit photos of Harewood strutting her stuff, the candidate for MP states as her mission: “I want to help people, especially the poor and I’m not coming to be fake I’m coming real. Vote for Natalie Harewood City of Bridgetown.”

While no election data has been announced by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, even though he dissolved parliament earlier this month, Harewood says she will be running against the incumbent Barbados Labor Party,  (BLP) candidate, retired Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic; United Progressive Party; (UPP) leader, former senator Lynette Eastmond, and Democratic Labor Party, (DLP) candidate, credit unionist Henderson Williams.

EXPERIENCE BARBADOS

So far, Harewood, 36, who gained notoriety two years ago with her explicit viral postings on social media, has picked up the support of The Adult Industry Association (AIA) in Barbados in her bid to contest the City of Bridgetown constituency.

“I am going forward and trying to do my best to help poor people in Barbados. I am not turning back. Nothing beats a try. There has been too much fakeness all these years. I’m the real deal right now for my people. No more lies,” said the now former sex-worker. “I am not a politician; I don’t know the first thing about politics, but I know Barbados is hard and poor people want help; we want jobs. Too much crime in Barbados. Too much young people coming out on the streets to prostitute for money. We need help. That’s all I know,’ said the sex-worker.

President of the AIA, Charles Lewis, said the organization would be providing both moral and financial support to Harewood as he will be running her campaign.

STOCK UP ON YOUR BARBADOS SOUVENIRS

The DLP is expected to face a strong challenge from the main opposition Barbados Labor Party (BLP) for control of the 30-seat parliament. The DLP won the last general election in 2013 by a two-seat margin.

Harewood, whose February 2017 single, ‘Dirty Harry,’  a song about a client whom she said had wanted a relationship when she was only interested in conducting a business transaction with him,  prompted much criticism, officially announced the planned career shift on social media.

“Hi my Instagram and Facebook friends, I am here to announce that I will be quitting my profession as a prostitute to pursue my political ambition in becoming the next parliamentary representative for the City of Bridgetown,” she posted.

Some residents of The City are welcoming Harewood with open arms, particularly those in Nelson Street where she grew up.

Among them is 60-year-old Kenny Browne, who told Barbados TODAY that as a home girl Harewood understood the culture of the constituency better than the other candidate.

“I feel personally that Natalie is coming from a point of view that she knows exactly how poor people feel, so she is just the voice of poor people. Her intentions are great, although persons may look at her in a funny way,” Browne was quoted as saying.