As Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell jostles in his mind when to call general elections, this week is expected to be a decisive one in the decision-making process.

For a while now Prime Minister Mitchell has been eyeing the euphoria of two one-day international cricket matches to be the backdrop for the announcement of a date for general elections.

Those matches between West Indies and Australia took place on the weekend.

Prime Minister Mitchell has already listened to his many advisors and though he has not divulged it, many say they believe his mind has already been made up.

His team of strategists has preferred an October poll, but sources say they believe the Prime Minister might be more inclined to mid July.

There has been a lot of speculation here about the date for possible elections for the last six months since Dr Mitchell warned party activists that he is not likely to go down the wire.

Elections are constitutionally due by the middle of next year, but the signs of an early poll are everywhere including regular public meetings, house-to-house campaigning and the appearance of political advertisements in the media.

The current parliament is expected to be prorogued on Friday for its traditional summer recess, but it is unlikely to be reconvened in September.

The temporary assignment to the acting Clerk of Parliament expires at the end of July, and there appears to be no immediate provisions for an adjustment.

Prime Minister Mitchell has told his party members that he will not go into an election without first fixing the contentious education act issue.

In a national address last week he promised that the act will be sorted out in one way or another within a month.

Some observers here have not rule out Prime Minister Mitchell springing a surprise announcement about the general election during the wrap up of the parliamentary session on Friday, though nobody knows that for sure.

Indication might only come by midweek if the media is invited in.

The last two times general election dates were announced at public rallies of the ruling party, but Prime Minister Mitchell might take the cue from his good friend Owen Arthur of Barbados who earlier this year made his surprise announcement during a parliamentary session in Bridgetown.

The potential dates for a July poll are either the 8th of 15th.

Prime Minister Mitchell had hoped that his ruling party would have shown up better in the internal polling his strategists have conducted.

As of now there are only three absolutely sure seats – which are both good and bad news.

Based on those figures, the opposition National Democratic Congress looks good for only three as well.

This means that the incumbent has the possibility of winning as many as 12 seats – though they are privately saying 10 might be a more realistic count.

But recent movement of voters have been in the direction of the opposition, from all indication – and the Prime Minister might see the best way to stop the bleeding is by putting an end to the suspense.


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