I’m the only man Douglas is concerned about
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – DEPUTY LEADER of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) the Hon. Mark Brantley intimated that Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas’ last chance of remaining in Office is to manipulate changes in the boundaries.
“We know that the Prime Minister is seeking to change boundaries; that he feels this is his last great chance of holding on to Office in St. Kitts. He has been there for 20 years. It seems that is not enough...he wants more. The polls are not going in his favour and the ‘Full Confidence’ that he is professing everyone knowing, that in reality is no confidence. He has resorted in getting boundaries changed.”
Brantley made this pronouncement last evening (Oct. 8) during his weekly talk show programme ‘On The Mark’.
Referring to Justice Darshan Ramdhani’s ruling on the Constituency Boundaries Commission’s Report and its subsequent appeals, Brantley said the Commission still exists with the same characters within.
“And so, notwithstanding that the Court has spoken in relation to the Boundaries Report that was being used and struck it down; notwithstanding that the issue of bias simulation to Peter Jenkins, the Chairman of the Commission, is still a live issue before the court; indeed not withstanding that the Commission itself has appealed the proceeding of the judge...the Commission continues to be.
Brantley inferred that the Commission comprises a number of enemies of the Federation’s democracy and only his Constituency in Nevis has been targeted because Prime Minister Douglas is concerned about him gaining repeated victories at the polls.
“I am to tell you my friends, my countrymen, at home and abroad, that the enemies of our democracy are at the gate, because here is what going to happen. They asked and received only to their proposals, the Honourable Marcella Liburd and the Honourable Dr. Earl Asim Martin of Gingerland fame, both of these submitted proposals for changing boundaries in Nevis. Now, you know, I know, everybody knows only one man in Nevis the Prime Minister is concerned about, and that is yours truly. I don’t know what I would have done to attract such odium, contempt and ridicule, but I am the one man he is concerned about. That’s why no surprise the only change they are proposing is to Number Nine. That beautiful, wonderful district of Number Nine, where the people of St. Paul’s and St. John’s continue to return the Sheriff year after year.”
He claimed to have recently learned about the proposals made by Dr. Asim Martin and Marcella Liburd for boundary changes in his Constituency.
“That is what they proposed, and I want the people to listen to me carefully tonight because here is what they have proposed - Marcella Liburd, the Honourable Dr. Earl Asim Martin – hear is what Labour and NRP are proposing to the Commission in their boundary changes: Cole Hill, Beach Road, Burden Pasture, Morning Star, Church Ground, Victoria Road, Brown Hill and Prospect...they say those should now vote in Gingerland. And so the boundaries for Gingerland, Number 10 and 11, are now going to run from Zion all the way down to Prospect.
“What I find interesting is that Cox, the great village of Cox, will remain in St. Thomas. So, Brown Hill people, you will have to jump over Cox and go to Gingerland to vote. Prospect people, you will have to jump over Cox and go to Gingerland to vote. Church Ground people, you will have to pass Cox and go to Gingerland to vote. But Cox is going to jump over Prospect and stay in St. Thomas.”
The CCM’s Deputy Leader said the proposals are preposterous and is advising constituents to remind agents of the NRP what they planned to do whenever they would have approached them to solicit their votes.
“That is what is proposed. And ask me...tell me if you ever hear anything more ridiculous than that. And I want people to understand, because when they come to you in Brown Hill and Prospect, Victoria Road and Cole Hill, Beach Road, Burden Pasture, Morning Star and the good, good, clean, decent village and people of Church Ground and tell you that they want you to vote for them, I want you to remind NRP and Labour that they wanted to send you up Market Shop to vote. Remind them of that, because that is what they are proposing for you.”
