BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 26th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - “While a large number of mainly Guyanese, Jamaicans and Santo Dominicans continue to enter St. Kitts and Nevis due to the increased global financial crisis faced by their respective countries, there are a significant number of Kittitians and Nevisians who continue to make their exist seeking better lives in other countries.”
This pronouncement was made by the Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay Grant, who disclosed that the high percentage of locals migrating from St. Kitts and Nevis is as a result of hopelessness, despair and victimization that is being committed by the Labour government.
Grant said that while it is interesting to see the Federation’s Prime Minister’s claim of establishing a committee to look into the affairs and complaints brought by non-nationals, he strongly believes that there is a greater issue at hand. “We first have to put our home in order before we can assist others. Whenever you are travelling, the airhostess will advise you to put on your life jacket before tending to someone else,” Grant said.
He questioned the Prime Minister’s motive behind what he dubbed as political dabble, stating that Dr. Douglas is out to get votes and would do whatever it takes to achieve that objective. In reference to his claim of the alarming exodus of Kittitians and Nevisians, Grant noted that a number of citizens have been leaving despite some having to endure harsh conditions in other countries because they see political and economic stability there.
He said that as locals ponder over an uncertain future in the Federation, the Government continues to victimize and discriminate without considering the harsh realities of their actions.
“Dr Douglas and his Labour administration must open their eyes and see what poor people are enduring as a result of the bad management that has destroyed this once flourishing economy,” Grant said.
He made an appeal for the government to act more responsibly towards citizens, warning that the people’s welfare should be government’s responsibility.
Grant noted that the government is on a witch hunt and even its own supporters are threatened, as only a few under the Denzil Douglas-led administration benefits in any real way. This, he stressed, continues to raise serious questions about the real reasons behind the proposed plan announced by the PM.
Grant warned that if Government doesn’t create a more comfortable environment for locals to live and work, the exodus of locals would continue. “We are seeing each day whereby locals are unable to continue taking the pressures, discrimination, victimization and mismanagement of the Federation’s resources by a select few, and, therefore, even to the non-nationals who have been coming in by the droves are complaining also,” he said.
“You just need to ask the many young, in particular Kittitians and Nevisians, who are desperate to migrate as they believe that they rather endure a lot of things because they see no hope of a good future in the once safe and beautiful St. Kitts and Nevis. I got to admit that it is better to be abused and knocked around by strangers than to have it done by your own,” Grant reiterated.
Grant said that he empathizes with the economic situation the world over, adding that for locals to be leaving the Federation at this time would only breathe increased anger and disgust for the Government. “When you have people running away at this time, it is no good and, therefore, the government should be bold enough to admit that they cannot address the current situation that we are all faced with,” he said.
Against this background, Grant urged that it was time for government to stop “the blame game and accept responsibility for the many inefficiencies and mistakes that it has made over its 14 years in government. You can only know that you are wrong and move forward when you are mature enough to admit guilt. Unless that occurs, you would only be dabbling in self pity,” he said.
“Stop blaming everything that goes wrong on the economic crisis, on the US administration, on the opposition political parties, on opposition supporters and so on, as there will never be evaluation and self-reflection when you continue to blame every individual except one’s self,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Grant said that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have a role to play in ensuring that the government addresses their welfare in a more professional and responsible manner.
“You must understand that you elected a government not to look at their issues but to look at the peoples’ issues, and if they are not doing it then let them answer to you. I reiterate that if the government doesn’t see to it that it is addressed, then you need to take the necessary action to ensure this is done.
“The Labour Government should seek to work with all relevant stakeholders including the Peoples Action Movement party so as to ensure that there are improvements in the socio-economic situation at home, thus encouraging locals from leaving while making it attractive for those already away to return,” Grant declared.
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