BASSETERE, St. Kitts – JUNIE ‘SCRAPE’ HODGE challenged Prime Minister the Right Honourable Denzil L. Douglas in the last general elections for the Constituency Number Six seat and lost by 1 726 votes. And according to him, he would do it again, providing that certain conditions are suitable.
Hodge was one of eight individuals fielded by the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and, in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, he explained that he is passionate about serving the people of Constituency Number Six, the birthplace of his father’s parents.
He said he is willing and able to contest the seat in the next general elections but would take up the challenge only if the constituents of St. Christopher Number Six require him to do so.
“It all depends on Constituency Number Six. If they want me to I will be there, whether independent or otherwise. If they don’t want me, I’ll just step aside.”
Dr. Douglas, Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), has won the Constituency Number Six seat six consecutive times commencing in 1989.
In the last general elections, which were held on January 25, 2010, Hodge received 179 votes against Dr. Douglas’ 1 905.
Hodge described that battle as “a good fight”, noting that although he did not conquer the seat “just taking away from his winnings, even by one vote is a victory”.
With which party will he campaign should he be asked to run? Hodge said he does not know and that again is dependent upon his constituents.
“Like I told you before, it depends on the Constituency of Number Six. The Constituency will decide that because those are who I want to serve. I don’t want to serve a political party. I want to serve the people of Constituency Number Six and by extension the country, not a political party.
“A political party right now – for me – is not a big issue. Because, first and foremost, I’m a federalist, I believe in St. Kitts and Nevis. So it means then if CCM (Concerned Citizens Movement) is coming down here to foot candidates and they would like me to contest in Number six for them, I’d be quite willing to do that because I want to serve the people there.”
Should he win the St. Christopher Six seat, Hodge noted that he would focus on the personal development of his constituents.
“We are focusing too much on infrastructural development in the country when the personal development of the people in St. Kitts and Nevis is lacking. We have to work on that first and, once we can develop our people, then all other things would fall into place.”
