Dujon’s placement in St James North seen as strategic misstep favouring BLP

With less than 24 hours before voters in St James North head to the polls, political analysts are predicting a decisive victory for Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate Chad Blackman, while questioning the strategic wisdom of the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) decision to field Felicia Dujon in the race.

In fact, according to one political analyst, her defeat could damage her long-term political prospects.

The by-election, triggered by the resignation of long-serving BLP Member of Parliament Edmund Hinkson, will see four candidates vying for the seat on Wednesday: Blackman and Dujon, along with independents Steffani Williams of the Community Empowerment Party and Alex Mitchell of the Bajan Free Party.

Political scientist Dr George Brathwaite projected that Blackman, a former diplomat and senator, could secure as much as 70 per cent of the vote. He argued that Dujon, a well-known educator and human rights advocate, does not resonate with the St James North electorate.

“I get the impression that she is a mismatch for that constituency,” he told Barbados TODAY. “I don’t think she jells with the constituency. To me, she doesn’t cut it. I think that perhaps Chad is the one who fits the bill for the constituency. And this is not to say that the Barbados Labour Party didn’t have work to do, or didn’t have things to do. Of course, they have, with the crime and things like that.”

Political analyst Devaron Bruce agreed that the DLP may have made a strategic error in assigning Dujon to a constituency it has only won once—back in 1986.

He argued that the opposition party should have reserved Dujon her for a more winnable seat.

“Strategically, they ought to have considered a different candidate, because if you consider that Felicia Dujon is really part of the top brass of the DLP – I believe the second vice president –, she’s well known in the public, has had some success with education issues, and has been their spokesperson on education. So, she would be considered one of the generals, so to speak, of the DLP,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“It was a strategic error or blunder on the DLP’s part to place her in that seat. I am not sure what the thinking was, but given her prominence within the party, she should have been working in a seat where she would likely do well in a future election… as opposed to one the DLP has only won once.”

Expressing similar sentiments, Dr Brathwaite said Dujon should be looking elsewhere.

“Indeed, I share the view that several other people have shared, that that was throwing the lamb to the wolves. I think there are other constituencies that may have jelled better for her,” he said.

The political scientist suggested that Dujon might have been better positioned in areas such as St Joseph, where a new candidate will likely be needed in the next general election due to Attorney General Dale Marshall’s impending departure, or Christ Church South, which he noted has been neglected by Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne.

Bruce further suggested that the optics of her placement could backfire.

“Quite frankly, going forward, she’s going to have some difficulty publicly, as it relates to perception and being seen as opportunistic if she moves from this seat to another,” he said. “So, to have a candidate like that pinned, in essence, to St James North, is not making any sense going forward. They started her at the wrong place, I would say, and therefore they would have to create a narrative for moving her.”

Dujon, an educator and human rights advocate, has led a campaign focused on social justice, infrastructure, and defending the rights of the vulnerable in St James North.

Blackman, a former diplomat, senator and briefly minister of educational transformation, has focused on innovation, community transformation, agricultural support and post-election readiness.

Despite the apparent expectation of victory, the BLP candidate urged supporters not to be complacent and to ensure they vote for him on Wednesday and encourage their friends and family to do the same. Dujon made a similar call to DLP followers, encouraging them to ensure their support counts by casting their vote for her.

Just over 8 500 people are eligible to vote in the by-election, with special voting already completed for election day workers. Voting will take place across seven polling stations, which will manage a total of 18 ballot boxes.

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb