BASSETERRE St. Kitts, January 21st, 2015 -- It was designed to be a night of political nostalgia and it did not disappoint. Hundreds of the party fateful turned out on Monday night (19th January, 2015), as the present and former leaders of the People’s Action Movement, PAM, hosted a special meeting at the Central Basseterre Constituency office.
The event was organized as part of the activities to mark the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the political organization, which is the largest opposition group in the country.
For many in attendance it was a night of learning and awareness about what some described as the “rich history” of the party, which burst onto the scene in the mid-1960s.
The line-up of opposition and party stalwarts addressing the meeting included the country’s first Prime Minister, Dr. Sir Kennedy Simmonds, who became the leader of the party about ten years after its formation, when his close friend and colleague, William Valentine Billy Herbert, stepped down ahead of the 1975 election.
Other presenters included current leader and Member of Parliament Shawn Richards and the man he succeeded just over one year ago, Lindsay Grant, who remains as a candidate in Constituency Number 4.
There were also moments of reflection from founding members and former executives Michael Powell, who is a former Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister and Richards Caines, a former Junior Finance Minister from 1980-1993. So too did the meeting hear from the woman who became the first elected female parliamentarian, Constance Mitcham, who outlined a number of party achievements in government, especially programmes that she said benefitted women.
It was disclosed that the formation of the party was sparked by public disapproval of a decision by the Government to change the formula used for assessing electricity fees, to one based on floor space. This was strongly objected to by citizens, said one speaker, and the disquiet eventually erupted into a massive march/demonstration of over 7,000 persons, staged just four days before Christmas, on 20th December, 1964.
It was from that march that demands were made to form the political group one month after in January, added another speaker.
Speakers reminded that the group was established on 15th January 1965. Four days later, on 19th January, 1965 they wrote to the Administrator advising him of the formation of the political organization.
In that letter, which was signed by interim Chairman Dr. William V Herbert and interim Secretary, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, it was pointed out to the Administrator that “The name of our organization is the People’s Action Movement, (P.A.M.) and it is our desire and intention to oppose the present Government, where necessary, with respect to its attitude and approach to the numerous unsolved problems of our area.”
Over 225 persons turned out for the occasion and those who could not be facilitated inside the constituency office, were accommodated on the outside under tents with appropriate seating. Yet there were others parked and seated on the nearby Greenlands Park, listening to the presentation, via the large speakers mounted outside.
Many admitted that they learnt a lot about their party with information being revealed that some had never been aware of before.
Other speakers having the opportunity to address the audience were PAM’s Deputy Leader and candidate for Central Basseterre, Jonel Powell and the first President of the Young Pamites, Stuart Knight.
The event was carried live on WINN FM radio and Sugar City FM. The event ended with the singing of the party song, which was written and composed by Michael Powell. There was also a short presentation to candidate Jonel Powell, who was celebrating his birthday on Monday.
Other activities are being planned for what will be a year-long celebration, according to Party leader Shawn Richards.
PAM…Moving Forward in UNITY!
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