BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - IN front of a very large crowd at the Patsy Allers Playfield, the tripartite opposition alliance -Team Unity - last evening (Feb 10) launched it 2015 Manifesto for the next week General Elections.
The 50-page document outlines Team Unity’s plans for the next five years should it be elected to office and it also highlights the organisation’s concerns as well as making commitments to the electorate.
All eight candidates who will contest the St. Kitts leg of the Election as well as Deputy Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley highlighted aspects of Team Unity’s vision for the Federation.
Jonel Powell, in his presentation, focused on the nation’s youth and providing university education opportunities them.
“To the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis, I say to you, better days are coming under a government of National Unity.
“A government of National Unity will develop an education guarantee to underwrite the cost of undergraduate education for our young people whose parents lack the collateral needed and the access to student loans. You heard already that a government of National Unity will reduce the interest rates on student loans.
“We believe in not just giving young people the opportunities but making sure they are in a position to manage those opportunities.”
Candidate for Constituency One Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd also outlined some of the infrastructural development Team Unity has in store for his constituency.
“Those who use the ferry between St. Kitts and Nevis, we will provide an enhanced facility that is passenger friendly.”
He also promised a new bus terminal for the east and west lines busses.
Former Leader of the People’s Action Movement and current candidate for Constituency Four, Lindsay Grant outlined the plans Team Unity has pertaining to land and housing.
“The mismanagement of the public purse has resulted in us being unable to service our debt with the St. Kitts-Nevis Anguilla National Bank. The Government has decided to use over 1200 acres of your lands and our lands in a land-for-debt-swap arrangement.”
He then promised to repeal that bill which gave took away ownership of the lands from the people.
“We have to take back the lands that this Government has put beyond our reach, and the way you take back the lands is by voting in a Team Unity Government.
“Team Unity will repeal the Vesting of Certain Lands Act. This result will mean immediately putting those 1200 back in the people’s hands.”
PAM Leader and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Five, Shawn Richards outlined plans to tackle the crime situation in the Federation.
“Under a government of National Unity we will ensure that all police officers have a safe and comfortable environment to work in.
“We don’t want you to go to any police station and wonder if it is an old dilapidated building…and you can’t believe that is a police station.”
He further indicated their intention is to establish a rehabilitation centre and neighborhood watch groups.
“We want to establish in all communities neighborhood watches. We want to put a rehabilitation centre in Nevis. We should not have a situation in this country where 16 year-olds and 12-year-olds have to be in prison with harden criminals.”
Team Unity Leader Dr. Timothy Harris announced that disadvantaged families in St. Kitts and Nevis would benefit from a $500 relief per month from the Government.
“We have been talking about the level of poverty in the land and we must do something about it. We have looked at it and have examined it and have determined that we shall introduce a special programme; a special subvention for the poorest of the poor. And every month the SIDF resources will be used to provide $500 for every family earning $3000 or less.”
