BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CHAIRMAN of the People's Action Movement Selwin ‘Rusty' Liburd predicted that general elections for the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis may be just around the corner.
Speaking at a post protest rally last Thursday (Nov. 22) on Bank Street, Liburd indicated that his prediction is based on the actions being taken by the Federation's Government, including the erection of billboards, the reintroduction of the Integrity in Public Life Bill and the mission to increase the number of Senators in Parliament.
He told the crowd of protesters that if they should pay close attention to what the government is doing and is trying to do, they would see that his prediction is true.
"Have you noticed recently, most of the roads around town, the potholes are patching up?" Liburd asked the protesters.
The Chairman said the government has been working assiduously to mend the potholes in the roads which, he claimed, was one hint that election may be close.
"If you drive around the main road you will notice they have some big billboards up," Liburd told the protestors.
He claimed that the billboards are from the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) and are covered with unfamiliar photos.
"So they have these big billboards with pictures up all around the island. These boards are the same size as the 'It's working' boards. They [government] dropped them quietly, people just notice they grew up from the ground," he said, while claiming it was a second sign that the bell might be rung soon.
Liburd went on to make mention of Integrity in Public Life Bill, which he said was a third sign that general election would be close.
"Recently they tried to pass some Bills in the House. They had four Bills to pass in the House and of the four of them three Bills would have been given its first, second and third readings. One Bill was only going to be read for the first time and nothing else.
"That same Bill had its first reading before, one Bill with two first readings - the Integrity in Public Life Bill. They came with it sometime in their first term and they have not read anything again. That was an election gimmick and they have come back with it this time. They had enough time to give it its first, second and third reading in the House," he explained.
Another rather interesting Bill, he said, was the Increase in Senators Bill which would make provision for three additional Senators; two of whom would be to the Government and one to the Opposition.
This Bill, Liburd said, is just another sign that general election would be in the near future.
"I am convinced election is soon. Election will be anywhere from now to March next year (2013). All the signs are there," PAM's Chairman stressed.
He went on: "Anyhow, that Bill with the Senators go as expected, the Prime Minister must do something."
Although he would not reveal what the "something" is, Liburd did however encourage the crowd to pay close attention to what is going on around them.
