‘Not helpful’: Wickham says Stuart reappearance could deepen DLP’s troubles

The Democratic Labour Party’s latest by-election drubbing has been compounded by the unexpected re-emergence of former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to the political fray, says pollster Peter Wickham, warning that his re-emergence risks deepening the party’s woes rather than reviving its fortunes.

Reacting to Stuart’s recent remarks defending the party’s performance in by-election and cautioning critics against writing the party’s “obituary”, Wickham said the former leader’s public presence only serves to remind voters of the DLP’s most crushing electoral defeat under his watch.

“One of the few bright spots of the campaign in St James North was that Freundel Stuart did not make an appearance,” Wickham told Barbados TODAY.

“The ability to prevent him from making an appearance during the campaign, I saw as a win, because generally speaking, his interventions are not helpful. It’s ironic that after the campaign is over and the party performed so poorly, he now feels the need to re-engage,” he added, noting that Stuart’s re-emergence may drown a sinking DLP.

Speaking at a recent St Lucy branch meeting, Stuart lashed out at pundits who have criticised the DLP’s state.

He dismissed premature assessments of the party’s demise, urging those who wished to speak on the party’s behalf to first understand its history and achievements.

The DLP suffered an unprecedented defeat in the 2018 general election under Stuart’s leadership, failing to win a single seat in Parliament.

That result has cast a long shadow over the party’s subsequent efforts to regain political ground, including in last Wednesday’s St James North by-election, where its candidate, Felicia Dujon, garnered only 468 votes out of the 3 200 that were cast.

In contrast, the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) Chad Blackman secured a commanding 84 per cent of the vote and was recently sworn in as MP for the seat vacated by party colleague Edmund Hinkson.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley, responding to Stuart’s recent comments, did not mince words.

“I’m glad to see that (former) Prime Minister Stuart has a voice, having lost it for the 10 years that he was prime minister,” she quipped when asked about her past opponent’s re-emergence.

Wickham acknowledged that while Stuart may believe his re-entry into public discourse can boost morale, his legacy may have the opposite effect.

“Stuart reminds people of the ten years he was prime minister, which, in my view, is largely responsible for the DLP’s current state,” the political scientist said.

“The party’s worst ever defeat came under him, and it has been struggling ever since. His continued presence doesn’t help. I’m convinced he thinks it does but it doesn’t.”

Wickham further noted that Stuart’s commentary now may also distract from efforts to rebuild the party with fresh leadership and ideas, something he said is critical if the DLP hopes to be competitive by the next general election. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb