BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, January 11th 2010 (PAM Secretariat) - A number of prominent Labour supporters have expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of leadership been provided to the Federation over the past 15 years.
People’s Action Movement Constituency Six representative Juni ‘Scrape’ Hodge declared that the mutterings replicate accurate feelings of a large faction of Labour supporters within his constituency and beyond.
Hodge noted that while many are very afraid of revealing their identity to the public, he has been secretly meeting with a number of these persons who have vowed to reject Dr. Douglas and the Labour Party overwhelmingly at the January 25 polls.
Hodge however insists that he is very confident that he would defeat Dr. Douglas, stressing that contrary to the Prime Minister’s statements that St. Paul’s residents don’t speak English, he is confident that they are intelligent, literate and would give him their support. He noted that there are several senior members of the Labour Party who have been supporting him but expressed fear of doing so publicly, as they are cognizant that they would be victimized by the PM.
Hodge, who declared that he has no fear in winning the seat occupied by Dr. Douglas, said there has been no transformation of open democracy in the Federation under the Labour Party. He noted that the people of St. Paul’s have long been concerned about the lack of tolerance by Dr. Denzil Douglas’ administration.
“It is evident from what we are seeing today that this has reached a new depth with the enormous level of corruption, crime and violence and social; ills continuously plaguing our Federation,” Hodge said.
Hodge said that while his support base in Constituency Six continues to grow, a number of persons are still afraid of the PM, noting that people want to be emancipated from the atrocities of Dr. Douglas and the Labour Party. He added that the condemnations being expressed by many would not bring changes if they do not go out and vote for change, adding that ensuring the defeat of Dr. Douglas and the Labour Party would bring about a new dawn for all.
Hodge declared that many hardcore Labour supporters are being marginalized in the government and a new band, termed by some as “Dougie’s clang”, is continuing to be dominant and very powerful. He believes it has destroyed the image that was originally portrayed by the Labour Party, stressing that a number of disenfranchised supporters are fed up with the leadership and they are echoing similar sentiments of change.
“I urge you, irrespective of your party line, to come out and vote for change. I am committing myself to ensure that under a People’s Action Movement Government the days of victimization and discrimination will come to an end, thus ensuring the people of St. Kitts and Nevis can enhance both themselves and country,” he declared.
