Well, on to victory!

By Robert L. Morris
| Wed, October 10, 2012 - 12:00 AM

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Re THE NATION/CADRES poll published in the September 20 SUNDAY SUN: first of all, the pollster Peter Wickham is well known for his bias against Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

Secondly, THE NATION is equally well known for its bias against the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

The combination of these factors will add as a deterrent for supporters of Mr Stuart and the DLP to give their views to the pollsters, and encourage Barbados Labour Party (BLP) supporters to give their views far more openly.

The BLP had long ago introduced the concept of a “one-term” Government, and will try to propagandize the electorate in this direction. From now on, more and more BLP spin doctors will be expected to use the nation to propagandize the electorate in support of their cause.

I am strongly of the view that the DLP, whatever the national swing of six per cent is suggesting from a statistical point of view, will win the elections, based on what will be happening on the ground.

This will call for the DLP’s strategy to work on those seats that appear to be statistically marginal.

I am certainly attracted to discussing certain readings and analyses of the polls. In terms of the gender profile, it is interesting to learn that after the DLP has done so much for females – camps for their children; maintaining females in work; bus fares for their children, among other things – yet they are supposed to be supportive of the BLP.

Is this a case of the DLP not speaking to gender issues as much as they should?

The BLP was once the party of the older generation, now the polls show that the DLP is. In the 2008 election the youth were firmly behind the DLP.

The incumbent Government is on the verge of promulgating a youth policy. Certainly the DLP can again swing the support of the youth, who are more subject to sway than the older vote.

The fact that the employed support the DLP more is significant. Those who have a stake in the country are less likely to put their employment at risk, especially since it is clear the BLP will support regimes that will sacrifice jobs for short-term development.

What is even more important is that the public servants support the DLP more, and they have good reason to do so.

Hey, DLP, you have the mature adults, the employed and the public servants on your side in these difficult times! Certainly you can strategize to get the females and the youth back to you again.

As for the leadership issue, Fruendel Stuart is a decent, principled, educated, thoughtful leader, who is very clear about his role at this time. He is not a headline grabber or one playing to the gallery.

He is capable of keeping to a plan to turn our country around. He is a Barrow and Tudor disciple, with skills of both, added to his own.

DLP supporters should not let the polls distract them. Stand together and forge on to victory.