The Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) held its fourth in a series of two hall meetings on Thursday 3rd November 2005 at Dick's Bar in Bricklin. People turned out in their numbers to hear the young visionary Patrice Nisbett present his plans and programs if elected and Patrice did not disappoint. He outlined his reasons for his entrance to politics, sympathized with the people of St James for the neglect they have endured under the CCM and outlined his plans for the future when elected in the next elections.
Mr. Nisbett opened his speech by saying, "I have the people of St. James to thank for any good that is in me and to them I pledge my continued service and selfless devotion. I have entered politics for the sole reason to serve. I have coveted no man's goods. I have robbed no man of his resources. I have tried by the grace of God to live within my means." Nisbett then invited the people of St James to walk with him "hand in hand as we journey on an exciting road to lift St. James and Nevis out of the doldrums of despair, despondency and degradation."
Nisbett made the point that naturally the march to a better life for the people in St James began with education. He pledged to provide free uniforms and free textbooks to all the schools in St James to defray the costs of education and said that his vision was to see a vocational center to provide vocational training for all hotel workers and those who work in tourism in St James. He also spoke of ensuring that the people of St James were fully computer literate and said that his ultimate dream was to know that everyone in St James had a computer.
Patrice went on to make the point that the march to a better life also included better opportunities in the world of work. He spoke of people in St James investing in the parish of St James by forming corporations. He gave them the assurance that once NRP was in government that they would provide incentives to businessmen as well as guarantee or co-make the loan. This he said would aid the people of St James in ensuring that money to be made in St James was made by St. James people.
Mr. Nisbett went on to speak of other features of the march to a better life in St James including a pension plan for all hotel workers in St James, the upgrade of the St James Pottery to make it a must stop for tourists, ensuring that fishermen in the area were equipped with boats that could stay out at sea at nights, providing vouchers so that Seniour Citizens could get to travel freely on buses and get their medication free of cost, the need for a cleaner and greener St James, the need for sports and recreation to once again come alive in St James, the need to build more community spirit and the upgrade of all roads.
Patrice ended his speech by making the point that "the time for change could not have been riper. The need for change could not have been more urgent. Let us cleanse ourselves of the burden of Egypt that is CCM and march to a new land of hope, happiness and very heaven here on planet earth. Beloved St. James let this be our pledge to help our fellowmen with policies that inspire the young; that energise the working man and that rewards the senior citizens with incentives for their hard work and years of service." The full text of the speech is available on the NRP website www.votenrp.com.
Questions and comments came from different people in the audience but none from anyone moreso that Wadsworth (Wads) Fergus who took to the mike on four different occasions and was particularly severe on the CCM Administration. He admitted that he never thought that he would be supporting NRP but he had no choice as his present representative Jean Harris had deserted them and only speaks to people around election time. He spoke of the neglect of sports in the society, health, the lack of concern for people and the state of the roads. He said that while it took twenty minutes to drive from town to the airport, it took another two and a half hours to get to Butlers. He ended saying that he was fed up with the government and was fully in support of Patrice and the NRP.
