SKNLP: Poll paints ‘picture of buyer’s remorse’ for voters

Last updated: November 3, 2017 at 16:52 pm

The opposition in St Kitts and Nevis says that a recent opinion poll shows “a stark picture of buyer’s remorse” for the country’s electorate.

The statistics, compiled by Jamaica-based pollster Bill Johnson, reveal that 54% of those questioned feel that the federation is heading in the wrong direction under Prime Minister Timothy Harris.

Only 32% said they felt it was moving in the right direction.

When it comes to personality, St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) leader and former prime minister Denzil Douglas is ahead of Harris when respondents were asked who they would prefer as leader of the country.

[caption id="attachment_4531" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Timothy Harris, left, and Denzil Douglas.[/caption]

The results put shows 59% want Douglas in the top job, with only 28% admitting they were happy with Harris.

The government has not yet commented on the release of the statistics.

‘Right team’ for next election

The results “confirm a very stark picture of buyer’s remorse where the Team Unity government under Dr Timothy Harris is concerned”, according to a statement from the opposition.

WIC News reached out to the SKNLP earlier today to discuss the findings.

Senator Nigel Carty told our reporter that instead of being part of a political attack, an independent poll was undertaken for internal purposes following the general election loss.

“Our party commissioned the poll principally for its internal purposes and largely for use as a supporting tool for our candidate selection process,” he said.

“Since the receipt of the results of the poll in late September, we were able as a party to identify a shortlist of candidates for the upcoming elections. That shortlist will be presented to the national executive committee of our party for ratification.

[caption id="attachment_2079" align="alignright" width="300"] SKNLP Senator Nigel Carty.[/caption]

“Our party is deeply rooted in the tradition of democracy and it was therefore paramount, particularly after assessing ourselves post the 2015 elections, that we undertook a transparent and bottom-up approach to our candidate selection process.”

The party is confident they are putting together the right team because of this poll, Carty added.

The firm behind the polls advises that it had no political affiliations.

WIC News understands the same company carried out work for Team Unity prior to the February 2015 election.

According to the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, the poll was conducted as a series of constituency-based surveys across St Kitts. Around 300 people were polled in each constituency.