Shaggy proclaims strength of Mia

The presence of Grammy-winning superstar entertainer Shaggy is being felt on the campaign trail in Barbados, with his 2002 release, Strength of a Woman, being used as in the campaign song by Mia Mottley.

"This one goes out to Mia Mottley, yuh affi have the right woman beside yuh, not behind yuh," Shaggy said as he introduced the song.

"The kinda woman we need, one weh can lead. Mia Mottley salute. Strong woman," the Mr Bombastic hitmaker said.

It is not the first time Strength of a Woman is being used in a political campaigns. The song is normally played at political rallies just before former prime minister Portia Simpson Miller makes an address. The former leader of the People's National Party has joked that Shaggy had her in mind when he penned the song.

Shaggy performed the song at the inauguration ceremony in 2012 when Simpson Miller was sworn in as prime minister of Jamaica for the second time.

Meanwhile, Bajans will go to the polls today to elect a new government. Mottley announced the January 19 poll, nearly 18 months ahead of the end of her first five-year term in office, saying that the election was necessary to bring about unity in the country.

A total of 108 candidates, representing seven political parties and nine independents are contesting the poll that political observers say will be a straight fight between the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the Democratic Labour Party.

In the 2018 general elections, Mottley created history when she led the BLP to a clean sweep of all the 30 seats in the Parliament.