BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE month has passed since nationals, citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis had cast their ballots, which resulted in a seven-four victory for the tri-party coalition Team Unity. But accompanying that victory are accusations of deception, victimisation and discrimination as well as many people not understanding what transition means.
Whenever a new government is formed, there is a process called transition – the period of time during which changes are made from the old ‘guard’ to the new in the administrative functions of governance.
This is a norm in any country and St. Kitts and Nevis is no different. This process takes weeks and even months, depending on the geographical size of the country and the number of ministries and departments.
However, what needs to be understood is that when incumbents are victorious at elections, there is no need for transition and business can continue as usual with minor changes. But when new parties take office, transition is inevitable. It is like moving from one house to another and having it decorated differently from its previous occupant.
Unlike most countries in the Caribbean region, the USA, after each election, no matter how bitterly contested, it ends with an expression of national unity.
In the Caribbean, however, the political culture seems to be one of revenge; in that former administrations would do everything in their power, especially with the employment of propagandistic material, to see the downfall of new governments instead of graciously accepting defeat and assiduously work towards renewing their parties’ commitment to future victories.
It is common knowledge that the voting population in any democratic country will accept disappointing results and view its new government as legitimate when it knows that the rule of law was obeyed.
The transition process of the USA is enshrined in that country’s Constitution, but not so (to the writer’s knowledge) in the Caribbean region.
Research has shown that during the roughly 75-day period between election and inauguration of a new US president, the outgoing administration briefs its successor on important national security, foreign affairs and other matters.
In so doing, it empowers the new president to make informed decisions as soon as he or she takes office, and it also helps the president-elect to make personnel decisions about top-level officials.
Today, in St. Kitts and Nevis, we have heard the former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, making a number of statements against the new administration, including: Team Unity won “this particular government on a ticket of deception”; and “We have had our Government stolen from us.”
Dr. Douglas, former Health Minister Hon. Marcella Liburd, newly-elected Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Three Hon. Konris Maynard and other Labour Party candidates are calling on the Government to fulfil promises made to the nation during its election campaign, which are also stated in its Manifesto.
The Labour Party’s Leader and its candidates claimed that Team Unity had promised when in office Value Added Tax (VA) would be completely removed and increased wages for persons working for less than $3 000 per month would be immediately addressed, as well as compensation of ex-sugar workers for monies not paid under the Douglas-led Government and a new school for the Basseterre High students.
However, contrary to what the Opposition said about VAT, Team Unity had stated that it would be completely removed from “food, medicine, educational supplies and funeral services”. But, to date, with the exception of Education Minister Hon. Shawn Richards addressing the Basseterre High School issue, Team Unity has not officially responded to the wages promise and a number of finger-pointing allegations of victimisation and discrimination, as well as Dr. Douglas’ US visa issue.
While the Fourth Estate, the media, which is responsible for informing, educating and entertaining the masses, have been highlighting the current political situation in the Federation and providing information to the nation where there are tainted statements, it is incumbent upon Team Unity to address those statements and allegations made by the Opposition in order to sensitise the nation on the facts of its intention.
This writer believes that, at this time in the political history of the Federation, it is also incumbent upon Team Unity to let the nation know what the Federal’s financial state of affairs was when it took office on February 18, 2015, and let the people know what the Government proposes to achieve in the first 100 days.
It is said that promises are a comfort to fools and every political party makes them during election campaigns in an attempt to woo electorates, but can this be said about Team Unity?
Dr. Douglas claimed that “almost every turn they have tried to deceive the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, saying one thing when they knew exactly the opposite…”
Must the people of St. Kitts and Nevis believe the former Prime Minister’s statement?
Time is the only judge of this!
The writer says time because, logically, it is impossible for any party in opposition to fulfil its promises within one month. Normally, it takes 100 days, and even more, for a new government to fulfil some of its promises unless, as earlier mentioned, that government was the incumbent.
And the Hon. Marcella Liburd stressed that the new Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, possesses some 18 years experience in government and Nevis’ Premier, the Hon. Vance Amory, who has been in Parliament for 26 years, is also an experienced politician, and yet Team Unity could not give to the people what it promised.
She also stressed that coupled with the experience of those two leaders, Team Unity had recruited an experienced team of advisors from the past People’s Action Movement’s administration in “Tapley Seaton, Dr. Simmonds, Consie Mitcham, Michael Powell, Richard Caines...and yet they have not completed one project".
Liburd claimed that they are not novices and should have come into office with their own Budget, but instead “still going on Labour Budget…and we expect them to bring their Budget soon and we must see liveable wage in there”.
While in some quarters her statements, as well as those of others, may be termed as rhetoric, it must be remembered that she is a politician and all politicians seek to convince their supporters that their parties are better capable and equipped to govern than those in office; hence their strategy in preparation for future elections.
However, as this writer said before, time is the only judge of this political situation.
