NDP should conduct its own opinion poll – Former leader

Former leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Sir James Mitchell thinks the party he founded should conduct its own public opinion poll, ahead of the next elections.{{more}}

“I would advise that the party does a poll and find out where we are with public opinion, and our chances of moving forward,” Sir James told Tony Regisford of IKTV and Crab and Callaloo in an interview yesterday.

Sir James, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines from 1984 to 2000, said that the New Democratic Party has been slumping in regard to garnering votes over the years, and that a poll could give the party some indication of the strategy that needs to be adapted to pull supporters back to the party and inspire and attract new people.

He said he is “deeply worried” about the way things are going in St Vincent and the Grenadines and he wants to ensure that “our beautiful country is well looked after.”

A recent CADRES poll, commissioned by the incumbent Unity Labour Party and conducted by Peter Wickham last month, showed that, among other results, the ULP would have retained the government if the elections had been called at the time of the poll, and could have also stolen two constituencies from the NDP.

The poll also suggested that most persons preferred Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves as the leader of St Vincent and the Grenadines over current NDP president and Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace.