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Peter Wickham

 

Political pundits have taken more than a curious interest in Peter Wickham’s, analysis of the political situation in St Kitts and Nevis. In a WinnFM Interview last Friday,Mr. Wickham, owner of Cadres, a polling firm which has been working with the St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) from 1995 to present said that the political issues facing St Kitts and Nevis warrants a general election to resolve them. He further stated  that whether the elections are held now or later it will not make a difference to the outcome.

Wickham also expressed on Social Media when pressed for his view and analysis of the political situation in St.Kitts-Nevis he wrote “I can say with certainty that Dr Denzil Douglas will win his seat.” Some have interpreted that to mean that the Prime Minister’s stronghold seat in his hometowm of St.Pauls may be his only safe seat come the next elections. That would be signficant as the ruling Labour Party has boasted at least 3 so called safe seats. The various polls conducted have indicated that Team UNITY Leader Dr Timothy Harris along with one of Team UNITY Deputy leaders and Leader of the PAM the  Hon. Shawn K. Richards are in very good positions and in relatively safe seats as far as the opposition is concerned. The polls also indicate that opposition candidates Lindsay Grant, Hon. Eugene Hamilton and former Deputy PRIME Minister Hon. Sam Condor are also polling exceptionally well .

 

Lindsay Grant  and Hon. Shawn K. Richards                                                           

Polls in St Kitts over the last 18 months have consistently shown that Dr. Denzil Douglas has lost significant   favour with the voters and general populace of the twin island federation. Over the last 18 months a number of polls, including some by Jamaican pollster Don Anderson,  have shown that of all Members of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition Alliance Team UNITY Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is the man preferred by most people, to be that  country’s next Prime Minister. Dr Harris has also received the formal and committed  of 6 of the 11 members of Parliament as their choice for Prime Minister. The letter was delivered to the Governor General, Sir Edmund Lawrence early in January of this year.

Team UNITY Leader Dr. Timothy Harris                            

The embattled leader Dr. Douglas  has repeatedly said that he needed more time to be ready for general elections. Most famously he declared at a  Rally held in the capital Basseterre that he was not ready to call electiond and he would not call the elections until his new candidates including Konris Maynard, Terrence Drew and Vance Gilbert are ready.

New Labour Candidates

Konris Maynard,  Dr. Vance Gilbert ,  Dr. Terrance Drew

Local and Regional political Insiders have reported that in March, Douglas told his colleague heads of government that he needed 3 more months to get his act together for an election. He alledgeldy expressed to them his concern regarding his   new candidates who were not yet receiving traction. He needed more time he reportedly  told his colleagues.

Noted pollster Peter Wickham however has been conducting regular polls in St Kitts for the Dr. Denzil Douglas led St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party including polls in Constituency in the 3 seats to be contested by his new team of young candidates. It is reported that the latest was a national poll conducted in or around the month of  May 2014.

That poll apparently offered no comfort to Douglas .The country according to the polls were  comfortable with Dr the Hon Timothy Harris and his Team Unity.

The recent uproar regarding the sale of passports to illicit actors and the US Treasury Advisory has not helped the longest serving Prime MINISTER in the region either. The advisory and its revelations adds credence to the Oppositions contention that the Citizenship Programme is not being managed properly and is being corrupted by associates close to Douglas.

As a result of the negative feedback over the Passport issue and consistent poll findings that show his ever declining appeal as Prime Minister and the indications that he would lose the elections Douglas has intensified his  personal attacks on Team Unity Leader, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris and his Team. Douglas has intensified his aggressive party politicization of state owned media (ZIZ) .

In a release sent to local media Team UNITY expressed thanks and appreciation to CADRES CEO Wickham for his frankness regarding the upcoming polls.

The release stated in part “We thank Peter Wickham for his forthrightness and candor. Like Mr. Wickham we believe that fresh elections should be called now so that the people can retire this outdated, out of fashion, out of ideas corrupt government. Douglas’ strategy of “wearing out the opposition is not working” and the manipulation of the SIDF (Citizenship Investment Programme) and the wreckless sale of our passports to scamps and illicit actors have not helped the Douglas Party.”

“Team Unity is Ready to Rebuild our beloved country, to strengthen our democracy and promote a people centered development,” the release continued.

According to Don Anderson polls the Team UNITY Leader Dr. Harris was favoured by over 70% to be the next Prime Minister of the Federation.

Dr. Denzil Douglas at the Multi-Million Dollar St.Kitts-Nevis Consulate in Vacouver Canada