BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CONTRARY to popular belief, the United National Empowerment Party (UNEP) is “very much alive and well” and is gearing up to contest the upcoming general elections.
This is the proclamation of the party’s Public Relations Office (PRO) Walford Arthurton, who recently spoke in exclusivity with SKNVibes.
The deafening silence of the party over the past couple of months has given rise to questions of its dissolution and resulting non-existence. Arthurton however assures that the party is alive and kicking and explained that the UNEP’s executive body must act only on the directive of its “supreme leader”.
“UNEP is vibrant and strong as the day that UNEP was born, only that we the executive of UNEP have to wait on the supreme leader to give us the go ahead of having public meetings and to do other things that people would like to see UNEP doing.
“The financial system of UNEP is very poor, very bad. We need money and, in a sense, we are not as vibrant as we should be but UNEP has a supreme leader. We have to wait on the guidance and the direction of the supreme leader. The supreme leader asked us to stand still, to let the dust settle between the Labour Party leadership and the PAM leadership. All of them have confusion, just so UNEP’s confusion. All the political parties have some kind of rivalry inside of them. That is why UNEP is this quiet at this particular time.”
Arthurton noted that although UNEP is contesting the next general elections, the race between the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the People’s Action Movement (PAM) should be close so much so that PAM stands the chance of capturing four seats in addition to the one which it now holds. He however warns that a major issue facing the PAM is that of dual citizenship which could be a main determining factor in the party’s victory or defeat.
“Presently, the people of St. Kitts still seem to have the attitude, PAM-Labour, and that is why I said bluntly that if PAM was to do their homework well they could most likely win four extra seats with the one that they have. UNEP would be very glad to win one of those seats that are outside a-begging. We are not even so sure that PAM could win back the Sandy Point seat because it seems as if Shawn, Lindsay and Flemming want to have their cake and eat it. They want to be rulers or leaders of St. Kitts but they still want to hold on to their dual citizenship without giving it up. They say they will wait until the appropriate time. When would be the appropriate time to let the citizens of St. Kitts Nevis know that they have relinquished their dual citizen?”
Arthurton threatened that, just as it did in the past, the UNEP is ready, willing and able to take legal action against those dual citizens who are seeking election or re-election and refuse to renounce their allegiance to a foreign state.
“Dual citizenship issue is very much alive. With the help of UNEP, we were able to take Dwyer Astaphan to court over this dual citizenship business. It was a member of the UNEP who took Dwyer Astaphan to court, and don’t underestimate the United National Empowerment Party. We are willing and ready to take any one of them to court if they don’t relinquish their dual citizenship.”
It is widely speculated that the next general elections would be held within the next four months, yet the UNEP, unlike the Labour and PAM parties, has not yet released the names of its candidates. Arthurton has given explanation for this.
“The last time I was here in January in an interview, the UNEP put out a statement that some people believe they can buy out the executive of PAM and they can mash up the Labour Party. They have now found themselves as vultures on the UNEP, and some folks who were suppose to be candidates for the Labour Party were challenged and even bought out. That is why we were not releasing their names because we know that certain people will do anything. They would stoop as low as possible to retain or remain in power. Whatever they have to do, they will do it.”
On the contrary, however, Arthurton says he doesn’t expect elections to be called before October.
“I would like the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to know that with the kind of the confusion within the Labour Party, it would be foolish of Dr. Douglas to call an election before October. So the United National Empowerment Party is gearing up for an election in October.
Addressing rumours that UNEP’s leader, Dr. Henry Browne, has jumped the proverbial fence and is now siding with the Labour Party, Arthurton said, “As far as I know, Dr. Henry Browne has not indicated to us whether by phone or by letter or by radio that he is no longer a part of or leader of UNEP.
