BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the announcement of the pending resignation of Lindsay Grant, Leader of the main opposition party in St. Kitts, the People’s Action Movement, many are speculating on who the next leader will be.
One of several names mentioned for the leadership position is local lawyer Jonel Powell, who is the party’s Deputy Chairperson. However, in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, when asked if he is being groomed for the position, Powell said that is not the case.
“That is certainly not the case and, as far as I know, nobody is being groomed for that position. Going forward from here the party has a process which it will follow, which is set out by the party’s constitution; and it is through that process the party will decide who the next leader will be. I’m certainly not being groomed to be the next leader,” he said
Powell also said that he is focused on assisting the party in a different way.
“I see myself as contributing much more to the party in other ways. I am certainly not looking to put myself in that position.”
On the other hand, Powell has not entirely ruled out the idea of being more than just Deputy Chairperson of the party, noting that later down the road he could see himself as a possible candidate for a constituency, but he reiterated that he is not currently focusing on that.
“You never know what could happen later down in the lines. Right now that is not my focus…my focus is ensuring that the party selects a leader. All the members are in agreement with and ensure they are properly prepared to move forward and contest the next election.”
At a press conference yesterday (July 17) held at the Ocean Terrace Inn, Grant announced that he had tendered his resignation as Political Leader of the PAM with effect from Sunday, September 30, 2012.
However, he added that he would still be the party’s candidate for Constituency Number Four at the next general election.
Powell said that he respected Grant’s decision and applauded him for 12 years of “fantastic leadership”.
“He undoubtedly contributed to not just the party but the country for the last 12 years. He was very clear in reasoning for making his decision and I applaud him.”
Powell is the son of Al Powell, a very staunch and vocal supporter of the PAM. He is also the nephew of the late William ‘Billy’ Herbert, one of the party’s founding fathers who had gone missing at sea since 1994.
The University of the West Indies-graduate lawyer has been actively involved in politics since age 18 and had acted as the party’s Chairperson for Constituency Two back in those days.
After gaining his Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, Powell has since partnered with Grant in the law firm ‘Grant, Powell & Company.
Within the next two days (July 20), the name of PAM’s first new candidate for the next general election will be announced.
“Come July 20th the party will officially begin the rolling out of our candidates and the first new candidate for the upcoming election will be launched,” said Grant at the party’s annual East Basseterre Father’s Day Luncheon back in June.
