BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TWENTY-TWO candidates from five political parties in the Federation – 16 on St. Kitts and six on Nevis – were today (Feb. 6) nominated to contest the General Elections slated for Monday, February 16, 2015.
Speaking with SKNVibes, the incumbent Parliamentary Representative for West Basseterre (Constituency Six), Hon. Sam Condor, said that he was confident in retaining his seat.
Condor was at the time in the vicinity of the Basseterre Police Station (Nomination Centre) in support of his fellow Team Unity’s candidate Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, who was there to be nominated to contest against the incumbent, the Hon. Dr. Asim Martin, for the East Basseterre seat.
Asked what his chances are going up against a younger Konris Maynard, Condor said: “I am confident that I will retain my seat. I think my record of service and my commitment to the people and the relationship with my people will guarantee another victory in this Election.”
He was also questioned on Maynard’s comments of not doing anything for the people in West Basseterre, to which he rubbished and insinuated that Prime Minister Douglas was instrumental in creating obstacles for his intended progress for that Constituency.
“I am human and there will be shortcomings, but in the past I was made to be frustrated. For example, when I was the Minister of Education, there was an education project where an Early Childhood Resource Center was supposed to be built in my Constituency at Lime Kiln Institutional Development area and also an Early Childhood Center for the people in West Basseterre.
“That was a project that had international support. It was supported by Walters who was the Director at that time. It was also supported by the Ministry of Education under the leadership of Osmond Petty and Chief Education Officer Patrick Welcome, but it was put on the back burner.”
The former Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that West Basseterre is the only Constituency in the Federation that is without a Government-sponsored Early Childhood Centre, but that would soon be rectified.
“I have a manifesto for my Constituency. All of those projects, plans, policies and programmes that I had intended for my Constituency and was not supported by the Douglas-led Administration will come to fruition once we are in Government after the 16th of February,” he added.
Addressing the boundary changes issue, Condor said it is not a problem to him, but there would be a reduction in the margin of Team Unity’s victory.
“Personally, I have no problem. I will win every box in my Constituency; so I will win the Election. Overall, we will still win the Government but, maybe, with a reduced majority.”
Condor also gave his views on members of the Security Services casting their ballots two days prior to the General Elections.
“I don’t think that was necessary in a small country like ours. In fact, that was thrust upon us. There is no regulation or anything. We do not know what is going to happen, but that is the modus operandi of Denzil Douglas; all in effort to maintain himself in government. And that is why we want a change in government to put all of those things right by going back to the old policy and practice of good governance.”
