BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - EAST BASSETERRE was dotted with the colour red early yesterday morning (Jan. 15) as dozens of St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) supporters marched along Cayon Street with Dr. Earl Asim Martin, the party’s candidate for Constituency Number One.
Decked out in their party colours, the supporters gaily waved their SKNLP banners and danced in the streets to the music of the accompanying sound system.
Martin and his procession, which also included Labour Party candidate for Constituency Number Three, Sam Condor, arrived at the Basseterre Police Station at 10:30 a.m. After completing the 10-15 minute nomination process, Martin joined Condor in raising his arms in a victory sign outside the building.
When asked what he thought about his chances in the January 25 election, Martin, who has represented East Basseterre since 1995, said he was “extremely confident”.
“As you can see, there is massive support for me in East Basseterre. And that is because over the past 15 years it has been progress not promises,” he noted. “In fact, I believe that I will win this constituency by an even greater margin than I have before.”
Tivanna Wharton and Sequanda Liburd were the incumbent’s two nominees.
The marchers then proceeded upwards along Victoria Road to the Anglican Church Hall, where they converged with supporters of SKNLP first-time candidate for Constituency Number Two, Marcella Liburd.
Flanked by her nominees, Jermaine Miles and Janice Hanley, Liburd strode self-assuredly into the hall. Afterwards, she joined Condor and Liburd in a repeat of the victory sign, which generated loud and boisterous cheers from the assembled supporters.
Speaking exclusively to SKNVibes, the sole female Labour Party candidate for the 2010 election stressed that she was not intimidated by her unique position.
“It has been difficult, but I don’t run from challenges, because it only makes me stronger. Being the only woman in a male domain is something I’m familiar with; I grew up as the only girl among six brothers.”
She added that she was “positive” that the Labour Party would win Central Basseterre, because after walking through the constituency and listening to the people’s concerns, it was apparent that they wanted a Labour leadership for 2010.
The ardent supporters then made the lengthy trek to the St. Johnston Police Station, where Condor was nominated as the SKNLP candidate for Constituency Number Three by Shermel Dias and Jacinth Francis.
Condor has been the West Basseterre Parliamentary Representative since 1989, and he expressed his assurance that come January 25 he would continue the Labour tradition in that constituency.
“I’m very confident we are going to take all eight seats. I have been a force in West Basseterre and I have won my seat by increasing totals. I am aiming to win this seat by one thousand votes,” said the SKNLP Deputy Leader. “That is quite possible and I’m looking forward to it.”
In a show of solidarity, the three freshly nominated candidates raised their arms in front of the stationhouse, confidently ending that leg of the Labour Party’s nomination journey.
Later in the day, the three candidates joined their colleagues at The Circus for a Rally, which signalled the end of Nomination Day.
