‘I made a mistake choosing Eustace’ – Sir James

A former Prime Minister and the founder of the New Democratic Party (NDP) has taken yet another swing at the leadership of the NDP, saying that he made a mistake in handing over the reins of leadership to its current head.

Speaking on BOOM 106.9 SVG’s morning radio programme last Tuesday, June 7, Sir James Mitchell admitted that when he decided to step down as leader of the NDP, {{more}}he should have appointed former parliamentarian Jerry Scott as his successor – not current president Arnhim Eustace.

“People ask me what mistakes I have ever made in government; that is one,” lamented Sir James.

He further said that one of the NDP’s biggest problems, which resulted in its fourth consecutive defeat in the December 9 general election, is that it does not understand how to capture the swing vote.

“Each political party in these islands, where there is a two-party system, has a solid base of 45 per cent of the vote… You do not win with your solid base and your loyal supporters only. You need that swing voter,” explained the former Prime Minister.

“A swing voter does not follow a loser. If you establish from time to time that you are a loser, the more you lose, the less you will attract the swing voter. And that is our problem here… NDP’s problem.”

With the recent success of the United Workers Party (UWP) in St Lucia at general elections there, Sir James acknowledged that it is a pity that while the NDP continues to reject his political advice, it has been sought after for years by the leadership of the UWP.

“Over the years, I’ve been in touch with Chastanet, and helped him in the emergence of his leadership in St Lucia… We’ve always been close.”

He added: “I would love to help my dearly beloved party, but my party has a policy in the last few years that they wanted to prove to the people of St Vincent, and prove to themselves, that they could win without me… I’m sorry that I’m not more involved in guiding my party, but… there are two ways to give your advice – when it is requested and when it is paid for. So, don’t bother to give your advice if nobody wants it.”

Despite this, Sir James said that should the party president ever reach out to him, seeking advice on how the NDP should move forward, he would be more than happy to assist.

“I am always available to my party,” he asserted.

“As long as I’m alive, what I have to offer is available to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Parties come and go, you know… there is always only one creator, but there are many disciples – some faithful, some not.” (JSV)