BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ALTHOUGH left in further suspense as to when the bell - signaling the election date - will be rung, a massive crowd which converged at Warner Park last night (Jan. 3) was told that it would toll in the not too distant future.
The event was the Prime Minister’s New Year Extravaganza and, as reports indicate, many citizens and residents among the crowd were there with the expectation of hearing Dr. the Hon. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas officially announcing the date on which the general elections would be held.
Dr. Douglas, Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, presented his Cabinet and candidates for the elections before the large crowd and hinted that sometime during this week a sign would be given, indicating the venue to which persons must gather to find out the date of elections.
“…I say to you that you must follow the star, follow the star because the star, later this week, will tell you where you must come in order to know the date of the next elections. And that date is very, very close. So those who have come from abroad and are planning to return for the elections, leave a lot of your clothes behind. Don’t take back all because you (will) be back here in St. Kitts in a very very short time.”
The Hon. PM further suggested that the bell would be rung in what may be considered a non-traditional fashion.
“Comrades, you will be hearing the bell ring, not by us…but by 100 young people. One hundred people will ring the bell and will start, officially, the campaign very shortly. And so tonight I say to you, continue to enjoy yourselves because we have one or two more artistes who will entertain you and then when that announcement is made celebrations will continue until the victory for Labour has been achieved.”
The party’s Leader expressed that his team has done well in piloting the country over the past number of years, noting that it is “ready to continue to serve the interests of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
“The St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party has served St. Kitts and Nevis…What is needed in countries around the world today are men of experience and women with compassion to continue to look after the affairs of the people in this turbulent time.”
Former Jamaican Prime Minister the Hon. Percival J. Patterson made an appearance at the event, and although declaring that his intention is not to “trespass in your internal domestic politics”, he expressed, “This is a time when the Caribbean, the whole region, needs a combination, a blend of experience with persons of vision. And in your present Prime Minister, you have a man of experience, you have a man of vision. Look around the world, everybody is going through a period of turbulence; even in the United States. Turn on your television and you can see what is happening there; unemployment is at 10 percent, unprecedented. In St. Kitts and Nevis unemployment is going down, not going up. That is a sign of progress.
In endorsing Dr. Douglas, the former PM said, “…I salute you and your government and your people for what you have achieved. And I say to you, forward ever, backward never… I say, Denzil for sure, Dr. for sure, Douglas for sure. Progress and victory for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for sure, move forward to progress and prosperity.”
