****In the forthcoming election the UBP should be aided by the PLP's internal divisions and the failure of the government to prevent the press from revealing the details of a scandal at the Bermuda Housing Corporation, and a poll during the summer conducted for the Gazette daily newspaper gave the UBP a six point lead. However a poll conducted in the last week of October, albeit on behalf of the PLP itself, showed the ruling party on 45.5% and the UBP on 37.7%. Some 16.2% were undecided.
****A cabinet reshuffle by Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP), in which the Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Savarin was demoted to Public Utilities, Energy, Ports, and the Public Service, with the prime minister taking on the foreign portfolio, has prompted speculation of an early election. The last election was in May 2005 for a five year term, but Ron Green, deputy leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), said that he thought the reshuffle could be the sign of preparations for an early election, "maybe as early as June 2008".
****Barbados is due an election by August 2008, and support for the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has dropped some five points to 27.5%. However it is still ahead of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) on 23%.
Prime Minister Owen Arthur is also showing better in the opinion polls, on 52%, than DLP leader David Thompson on 28%. Traditionally the BLP was conservative and the DLP liberal, but now there is little ideological difference between the two and more depends on personalities. The BLP currently holds 23 seats in the 30-seat House of Assembly, with the DLP holding the remaining seven.
****Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has until March 2009 to call an election, but a favourable opinion poll for the ruling New National Party (NNP) in early October sparked speculation that the NNP could go to the polls early in search of a fourth consecutive term in office. The opinion poll, conducted in late September, gave 30% support to the NNP and 24% to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
****The St Lucia Labour Party has been calling for an early election less than a year after it lost office to the United Workers Party (UWP), with one MP even predicting a return to power by Christmas. However, the UWP has a solid majority of 11 against six in the 17-member House of Assembly and Prime Minister Stephenson King rejected the SLP's mid-October call by saying: "I can assure the St Lucia Labour Party that there is no likelihood of an election in December, and we intend to remain in office for our full five year term."
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