BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Jan.1.18 - LEADER of the Opposition, Dr. Hon. Denzil Douglas wished the nation well, but reminded that 2017 was a mixed year for all in the Federation.
In his annual National New Year’s Address, Dr. Douglas said that 2017 “was a year to remember”, whilst highlighting what he described as “injustices against ordinary citizens”.
According to the former prime minister, people’s livelihood were “willfully and unlawfully placed under direct threat in many instances”.
“We saw our social landscape change for the worse as crime increased exponentially and total lawlessness threatened to make St. Kitts and Nevis its home. Many of us were victims of never before seen abuses of power at the hands of those charged with the leadership of this great country.”
He pointed to the case involving the former Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George.
George was arrested for breaches at the electoral office, for failing to report the results of Constituencies Four and Eight in a timely manner.
“A prime example of these abuses of power would be the recent arrest of the former Supervisor of Elections on frivolous charges of failure to deliver the 2015 elections results in a timely manner. Contradicting this nonsensical charge is the fact that the elections report was presented to His Excellency the Governor-General who within two days after the elections, had appointed a new Prime Minister.”
He added, “This type of abuse is typical of dictatorial fascist regimes of the past.”
The outspoken Dr. Douglas noted that the “observation of this and ample other abuses of power caused many of our people to succumb to stress, strain and illness, the vagaries of life on earth during the year, passing eternally into The Great Beyond”.
High ranking members and former election candidates of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), for much of 2017, complained about alleged abuses purportedly being carried out against supporters of the party.
They had outlined several names of persons that they alleged were dismissed or victimized.
