Tabor reports that SMS poll shows Simon outstripping Marshall and PM Browne as biggest ALP liability

Polling data from the St. Mary’s South constituency shows Kelvin
“Shugy ” Simon leading Samantha Marshall in all respects, claims
Damani Tabor, public relations officer for the United Progressive
Party  (UPP).

Tabor says that both the Antigua Labour Party and Marshall, its
candidate who withdrew from the race on Thursday, are very
unpopular in the area. 

Had she not withdrawn from the by-election, she would have been
trounced severely and by a wider margin than in the General
Election, the public relations officer says.

Tabor reports that Simon received an 87 percent positive rating –
compared to Marshall’s 54 percent –
which, he says, is a very strong number for the UPP candidate.
The poll sampled residents of all political leanings, he notes.

In terms of confidence in Simon’s ability to positively develop the
constituency, he scored 66 percent, Tabor says, showing that the
majority believes he can take St. Mary’s South forward.

Marshall, on the other hand, polled at 38 percent – despite being the
former MP, a Cabinet member, and a minister of government.

Tabor says that over 66 percent of those polled said the
unemployment rate is unacceptably high, while the present state of
the economy had a 70 percent negative view.

Polling was also undertaken on the Government’s ability to maintain
buildings and infrastructure and the constituency, and it garnered a
75 percent negative view. 

The ratings on the Browne Administration’s handling of the
healthcare system is also an indictment against the Antigua Labour
Party government, the UPP public relations officer says.

Tabor states that PM Browne has now become the biggest liability to
his Party, compared to when he took over as leader of the ALP.
And he speculates that, following the upcoming by-election, the
people will have to return to the polls to elect a new government.