BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 10, 2018 – THE St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has unveiled the first of several new candidates that will contest the next general elections, which are constitutional due in 2020.
On Sunday (May 06), the party unveiled Dr. Geoffrey Hanley in Constituency One, East Basseterre, as the official candidate who will be running against Minister of Public Infrastructure, Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd.
Hanley replaces Dr. Earl Asim Martin, who lost the seat by four votes to Minister Liburd in a tightly contested seat in 2015.
At a public meeting in Newtown, Leader of the SKNLP, Dr, Denzil Douglas unveiled the former principal, who recently retired from Bronte Welsh primary school after serving for more than 20 years, to take up politics.
Dr. Douglas told the audience that they have begun to witness the process of transition of leaders at the candidate level.
He described Hanley as a “gentle giant” who will be looking after the affairs of the people of the constituency.
“…tonight, I say thanks to Dr Geoffrey Hanley who stepped forward on the stage for the first time taking a place among the leadership of our great party…” Douglas said.
He added that Hanley has been one who was very fortunate to sit at the feet of Dr Asim Martin.
According to Dr. Douglas, the new politician was born to humble parents in Newtown and is well known in East Basseterre.
“He is going to take out Patches! Geoffrey will replace Patches in the parliament of our country as the representative of constituency number one. Mark my word tonight!”
Hanley’s announcement comes as the party is in the process of rebuilding and rebranding following the brutal loss in 2015.
The party launched a new Candidate Selections Process last year, whereby all branch leaders had to apply with other interested persons, who wanted to represent the party in the elections.
Dr. Douglas had previously indicated that the party will be releasing the new candidate in due time.
