Never take your party supporters for granted!

EDITOR: While I am not an expert in election analysis I would like to offer my two cents. We heard of the upcoming elections in St. Kitts and Nevis which is set for August 5. While it is a short notice as to the date, the other parties have been expecting it since six of the cabinet ministers withdrew their support for the current Prime Minister. Will there be a change of Government like Grenada? Only time will tell.

From the elections in Grenada where the government had all 15 seats and ended up with 6 seats, shows that no matter how strong a party is, it can loose power, once the people are fed up and there is a strong opposition. For the opposition which had no seat in parliament to be victorious by winning 9 of the 15 seats, says a lot. There are two very important lessons to be learned, one of which is: never take for granted your supporters and tell yourself that you can not loose. This was seen in Grenada. Can you imagine a party having all the seats, yet lost the elections, something was drastically wrong. Sometimes having all the seats a party in power can become complacent and take its people for granted, feeling secure because they have all the seats.

Another lesson to be learned is: There is a need for a strong opposition headed by a strong leader. Imagine the current Prime Minister in Grenada took over as leader of his party less than a year before elections and won so convincingly. Indeed he had to be a strong leader and the opposition had to be strong and united.

It is important that parties learn from the Grenada election. No party can be too strong to loose and for opposition parties to take the rein of power there must have a strong leader and a strong party. It is important that supporters be not taken for granted.

Sometimes it is the small things that hurt and bring down a government. If people feel neglected and second class they would react. Sometimes the reaction will be at the polls which can mean the downfall of the party.

In both countries the elections were called before the full term. In Grenada it resulted in a change of Government. In St. Kitts and Nevis, what will it be? I am just wondering if this year is a year of change politically and if when elections are called before its full term, if it would mean a change of Government? We know that in Barbados that was not the case. However, time will tell. Importantly, the governing party must be politically wise, with its ears to the ground so that elections are properly timed.

Kennard King