VETERAN pollster Don Anderson is now the subject of much discussion in St Lucia, where the results of Monday’s general elections — in which the Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) trounced the ruling St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) — badly contradicted the findings of an opinion poll conducted by him and published days before the vote.

Anderson’s poll had predicted a comfortable win by the Kenny Anthony-led SLP, with a minimum of 11 of the 17 parliamentary seats — the same margin the party held before the vote. The poll, according to St Lucian media, was conducted across all 17 constituencies and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent. The results were retested by way of ‘spot polling’ in select constituencies on May 28 and 29.

However, Monday’s preliminary results revealed the exact opposite, with Allen Chastanet’s UWP — which campaigned on promises of economic and tax reforms — winning with an 11-six majority.

Anderson’s poll was released by the SLP a day after one published by Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) predicted a close contest. The CADRES poll was roundly rejected by the SLP.