BASSETERRE, St. Kitts --LEADERS within the ranks of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) are brushing off suggestions that the Party is divided as they prepared to elect one of three candidates to its helm.
Konris Maynard, Dr. Goeffrey Hanley and Dr. Terrance Drew are all vying for the leadership of the SKNLP. It is the first time in over 30 years that the 89-year-old political organization will have someone new at its helm other than former Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Dogulas.
The Party has come in for heavy criticisms from inside and outside its ranks for the nomination process and the candidates vying for the helm. It has seen some of its strongest members being its most vocal critics of some of the candidates.
While addressing reporters at the party’s press conference, Labour Party Representative in Constituency Three and Candidate, Konris Maynard said the Party is allowing all its stakeholders and delegates to exercise their choice when it comes to determining who should lead the organization.
“We are very confident that all of us will be able to ensure that our colleagues and our supporters come in line with us. And I have given my colleagues the commitment that everyone who rallies with Konris Maynard, I will take them and make sure that we all come together at the end of the process,” he added.
Parliamentary Representative for Constituency One and Leadership Candidate, Geoffery Hanley also denied claims of division, pointing out that like any organizational transition there will be a level of discomfort which would not be accepted by some.
“From where I sit, the Party is not divided even among us as nominees. There is no division among us, probably a difference in what we are pursuing at the time,” noted Hanley. He added that the Party is looking at the bigger picture of working to ensure that it is positioned to return to the government and lead the people of St. kitts and Nevis.
With the incumbent leader, Dr. Douglas, not vying for the post, some within the ranks are concerned that there are not many competent to lead. Additionally, there are criticisms against each of the candidates, along with the incumbent on why he is leaving now and whom he should bless to be the leader.
That has reportedly trickle down to the supporters of the SKNLP, as it is said that there are three factions within the ranks, one for Dr. Hanley, Maynard and Chairman, Dr. Terrance Drew.
Dr. Drew, however, supported the statements that the Party is not divided but united in moving forward with its approach to electing its new leader and returning to form the next government.
Like Haney, Drew notes that the Party is going through a “transition and not a division” phase at this time.
“In our Party, there is not at any time two persons declaring that they would be vying for Prime Minister. We are going through a process that we are committed to, and a process that each of us have been supporting,” said Drew.
It is left to be seen how the winner of the elections will be able to bring all the various supporters together after the brutal public image smear that has been ongoing by members within the party.
