ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, NOVEMBER 20-Renowned Caribbean political analyst Peter Wickham has sharply criticized the New National Party’s failure to reach an accommodation with former minister Peter David following last December’s controversial leadership election, warning that the party now faces potentially catastrophic consequences as David’s newly launched Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) gains traction.

Speaking on the popular talk show Ridealong, Wickham outlined a dire scenario for the opposition NNP, whose internal divisions triggered a cascade of resignations after David departed from the party in the wake of Emmalin Pierre’s contentious election as party leader—a process widely perceived as rigged by former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

“The NNP has the most to lose from Peter David,” Wickham declared. “Peter David doesn’t have to win a seat to damage the NNP. He can run candidates in this election and pull votes from the NNP. It can be a spoiler, and he can do some serious damage to the NNP.”

Wickham’s assessment proves prescient as the DPM, officially launched with an ambitious progressive agenda including substantial housing grants for first-time homebuyers, has begun attracting supporters from both the ruling National Democratic Congress and the NNP.

The movement’s momentum is particularly evident in town hall meetings scheduled in Toronto and Brooklyn this weekend, reflecting significant diaspora engagement.

When asked whether the damage to the NNP is irreparable, Wickham was unequivocal: “I don’t believe it can be fixed. The NNP has now lost two people since taking office. They’ve lost two people, and they’ve changed the leader. They have essentially displaced the leader who had been a source of stability at the party for several years. And in an environment like that, when you’re losing members left and right, it is challenging to see how it goes.”

Wickham criticized NNP leader Emmalin Pierre’s lack of awareness regarding the party’s precarious position. “I haven’t gotten the impression that Emmalin Pierre is aware of the hill that she’s climbing,” he said. “You can’t fix a problem when you don’t see the problem. What she’s inherited is an awful lot of baggage, and right now I don’t get the sense that she sees it as baggage.”

The analyst noted that had the NNP approached David after the leadership election, a constructive path existed. “They could have negotiated with him, you know, the role of Deputy Leader of the Opposition or Leader of Opposition Business. But what did they do? They didn’t.”

While Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has indicated his intention to serve a full constitutional term with elections due in 2027, Wickham raises questions about the administration’s ability to consolidate political support amid the DPM’s growing appeal. The critical question, Wickham suggests, is whether Mitchell can solidify his position before facing a resurgent opposition landscape.
“It’s a new conversation happening in Grenada,” Wickham concluded.