BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 25TH 2009 (CUOPM) – The people of St. Kitts and Nevis rejected a call by the People's Action Movement (PAM) to oppose boundary changes, by staying away from a march on Wednesday that was organised by its Leader Mr. Lindsay Grant.
The small is not only a disappointment Mr. Grant, but confirms the results of a poll that found Kittitians and Nevisians want changes to the boundaries before the next general elections.
Mr. Grant promised thousands would march, but just about 200 persons organised to oppose recommendations from the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC).
On Sunday, Mr. Grant appealed to all the people of St. Kitts and Nevis regardless of their political persuasion to participate and promised a massive march that would on Wednesday afternoon “shake Church Street like an earthquake.”
The march, which started more than one hour late, attracted the low turnout thus confirming what a scientific poll found that nearly 60 percent of the people believe that the boundaries are flawed and need revision.
The poll conducted early this month, also found that a majority of the people believe that the boundaries should be changed before the next elections and that a majority of the people also understand that boundary changes are part of the commitment to complete the electoral reform process.
In a court action filed by the PAM, an Antigua-based Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Judge, Mr. Justice Errol Thomas, rejected allegations of bias, bad faith and improper purpose leveled at the Constituency Boundaries Commission.
The Commission, by virtue of section 50 of the Constitution, has a mandated to review the number and boundaries of the constituencies into which St. Kitts and Nevis is divided and submit its Report to the Governor General.
The writer is the Press Secretary of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis.
