Remarks by Dr. the Hon Timothy Harris, Chairman,
at the 76th Anniversary Conference
of St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Marriott, 18 May 2008

Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, Chairman of St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party

Perhaps a brief glance backward to another place and time, may help you understand the deep rooted contribution of our great Party to the social, political and economic development of our country, and why it is that Labour has become such a vital institution in the tapestry of life here.

History
76 years ago, St. Kitts and Nevis, indeed our Caribbean, was a deplorable spectacle of poverty, ill health and hopelessness. Compared to today’s standards life was hard, as life everywhere was in the post depressive years (1929-32).  Basic living conditioins were abysmal, life expectancy was short and the prospects for upward social and economic movement ranged from low to non-existent for most of our people.  Added to this was the fact that most work of that time was arduous and back-breaking in nature.  When considered together it stands out as a solid testament to the basic strength, fortitude and character of our people that so few broke under the stresses and strains of those circumstances.

It was out of the crucible of that difficult period, our Labour movement emerged to organize men and women of goodwill to seek a better life not for themselves but for the country at large. ~~Adz:Right~~

Through their agitation, argument, argumentation, through their participation in the first general elections of 1937 the country witnessed, over time, landmark socio-economic reforms.  These Reforms included: the passage of legislation legalizing the formation of Unions in 1939, slum clearance legislation to end the squalor of thatched houses with earthen floors and the very first pieces of legislation designed to assure workers of minimum wages and protection of their basic rights. 

We would also see efforts to end the restrictive franchise laws that prevented our forebears from participating in elections, either as electors or as members of the legislature.  The restrictive covenant included property qualification to be able to vote or become a candidate.  It must never be imagined that any of this was achieved without considerable struggles.

It was not until 1952 that universal adult suffrage would come to St. Kitts-Nevis and Anguilla.  Our Party, then known as The Workers League convincingly won those elections.  Let us applaud the winners of the first elections held under universal adult suffrage.  The names of J France (2443), R Bradshaw (1608), F T Williams (1167), and CAP Southwell (1646) on St. Kitts, J Liburd (640), and AJ Gordon (Independent) (488) on Nevis and DS Lloyd (Workers League) (634), on Anguilla will be indelibly inscribed in our political history.

A career of winning elections
But it is not just the elections of 1952 that we won.  There have been thirteen (13) general elections between 1952 and 2004.  In the pre-independence era there were seven (7) general elections: 1952, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1975 and 1980.  Labour won all but one of them outright.

It was only in 1980 that we lost the government even though we had won the popular vote.  There were then ten (10) seats in Parliament, but the one for Anguilla was uncontested.  Thus, with nine (9) seats at stake, Labour won four (4) and PAM won three (3) on St. Kitts.  PAM then formed a coalition with the two (2) elected members from Nevis and was able to form a minority government (re the popular vote) on the basis of five (5) seats to Labour’s four (4).

In the post-independence period there have been six (6) general elections: 1984, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000 and 2005.  PAM won two (2) of them outright, one tied (1993) and Labour won three (3) of them outright.

A quick tally shows that Labour has won nine (9), PAM has won three (3), and one (1) was a draw.

It follows that Labour has been the most successful political party in 20th century electoral politics, and has dominated elective politics for the 21st century so far.  It is more than a catch phrase when we say in our country ‘if you are a Labour you are a big piece of Labour and if you are a PAM you are a big piece of PAM’.

But it is of the utmost importance that we bear in mind at all times, the lessons of the general elections of 1980 and 1993.  The message is that Labour MUST at all times win a clear majority of the seats in Parliament on its own steam.  A clear majority in the National Assembly is currently six (6) seats.

Confidence
Labour has the confidence of the people because its philosophy is good.  Its application has been relevant, modern and it took its mantra for the good that it can do to heart because it has served the people well.

A party that keeps its soul intact, that refreshes itself, that offers viable candidates, supportable programmes, defends the national interest, and takes its people not so much where they want to go but where they need to be, will always be a credible and formidable competitor.

We, the inheritors and legatees of the successes and victories of Manchester, Bradshaw, Southwell and Moore, must always prove ourselves worthy of the baton passed to us.  We MUST always and at all times exemplify the National Motto “Country Before Self”.

That is why today we stand on the cusp of a fourth (4th) straight electoral victory.  Because Labour has put the interest of the people first and because we have not looked away we shall not exact Goethe’s rebuke “that we know not where we are going because we have not looked ahead”.

Looking Ahead

In today’s world more than half of the global economy is based on services.  In the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) services constitute more than seventy five percent (75%) of the economies.  In like manner we need to look ahead to a better St. Kitts and Nevis whose economy must also be service based.    ~~Adz:Right~~

Of an absolute necessity we found ourselves constrained to close the sugar industry, which, in its last years was stultifying our country’s growth and inhibiting our advancement into a new way of life.  The production of sugar had been the back-bone of our economy for more than three hundred (300) years, but the days when “sugar had been king” were long past.  Times and circumstances change and life must go on.

We have given the workers generous severance packages.  For those with over twenty (20) years of service to the industry, we have created a scheme to assist them with acquiring and owning homes of their own.  Our heartfelt thanks go out to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which has provided the grant funding.  Gracias al gobieruo del presidente Chavez para la asistancia.

Today the struggle continues to ensure that every able-bodied ex-employee, who is willing to work, should be able to find work.  In my own area there are still many yet to be gainfully employed.

Economic Enfranchisement
Clearly, we need to expedite alternative developments in the sugar belt, bringing new and expanded opportunities for jobs and self employment.  Today I call for expedited action on the creation of the Botanical Gardens at Mansion Estate.  To my mind, as well as to those of development experts, this project is a classic example of how we might utilize nature’s gifts to us.  With appropriate linkages we can develop rainforests and mountain trails for hiking and sightseeing, and a forest lodge along the lines of the Shringala Park in Elan county, Taiwan.  In other words, my good people, what we have here is an excellent opportunity to give a solid boost to the development of eco-tourism in general, and to the development of one of the naturally most beautiful areas of St. Kitts. (Of course that is my area).

Yes, oh yes my dear people, as our country continues to progress, we MUST ensure that we have shared prosperity, not just in the capital and city but in the suburbs, as well as in the rural and country areas, so that, in time, there will be no section of our fair land in which any of our beloved people will have to eke out wretched existence.

Yes, as we move forward, we will be the Party where the small and medium size entities will receive a listening ear and helpful intervention, even as we extend some compliments to the large and super huge businesses.

Yes, we want the creative energies of our people, in particular our intrepid young entrepreneurs like Heston Hamm (Stone Deals), Kareem Maynard (K M Plant Nurseries), St Clair O’Garro (Driftwood), Scott Caines (C & C) to bring the fruits of Labour to their bank accounts.

And many have succeeded by the plethora of opportunities brought about by Labour.  Business opportunities have expanded.  We have a new dynamic business in G Squared, capable of state of the art design work.  We have SKN Vibes, we have Disseminate It, All Solutions with the best in upholstery and furniture including marble and granite solutions.  We have a brand new set of millionaires created by Labour’s progressive growth policies.  We have local companies like TDC, SL Horsford, FB Armstrong, National Bank Group of Companies, making more money, higher sales than at any other time in their history.

If the next general elections were about the economy alone Labour would win hands down.  But the next election will not be solely about Labour’s superb record in housing, education, and in foreign policy and economic diplomacy.  It will be about allegations of corruption, crime, cost of living and change.  And so you must read and update that article on Fighting The Cost of Living.

Speaking of change.  We will argue on every occasion that over the last thirteen (13) years, Labour has been changing St. Kitts and Nevis for the better.  And it was an acceptance of the inevitability of change that we introduced our new viable change agents in #5 in Dr Norgen Wilson, in #4 in Glen “Ghost” Phillip and in #2 in Marcella Liburd.

Let us give all of our candidates new and returning a round of applause.  Let us show appreciation to those retiring by a round of applause for Comrade Rupert Herbert and Comrade Dwyer Astaphan.

So we are at a critical juncture and with your support Labour will win again.  Labour is good all the time and all the time Labour is good.