BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER publically throwing his support behind the leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay F. Grant, Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald is reneging and calling for his resignation as the party’s leader and from the Constituency Number Four candidacy.
Weeks before the General Elections were held, Grant stood on the political platform and told of what he described as a plot to discredit him. He explained that he was invited to a meeting by an alleged investor, who proposed to him that after he wins the election he would be willing to purchase 200 acres of land. Grant further explained that for his party’s benefit, the sum of $1.5M was offered and, solely to test the alleged investor, he instead suggested $1.7M.
Grant called for the resignation of Ministers Richard Skerritt and Nigel Carty and Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas for, as he explained, any role which they might have played to besmirch the PAM’s name.
Shortly thereafter, a tape surfaced showing Grant with man, whose face was blotted out, negotiating about the sale of land.
Despite public outcry concerning Grant’s alleged corruption, Archibald gave him “the benefit of the doubt” and expressed that it was obvious that a trap was set for Grant and he did well to avoid it.
Recently, Archibald spoke exclusively with SKNVibes and indicated that prior to the January 25 General Elections, he had not seen the tape. However, after viewing it, Archibald said he had reason to reconsider his original stance.
“I gave Grant my full support during the campaign (but) when I saw the spectacle of Grant sitting down in the hotel in front the man…I am reneging because I didn’t know the facts at first, but once I knew the facts, in all honesty, I had to change my mind. The facts being what I saw on the tape. I saw him negotiating for $1.5M. I heard his upping the ante to $1.7M. I thought about it, I agitated with myself about it and then I said I have to come out and tell the people the truth as I see it because that is how I saw the truth.
“I felt, I still feel that Mr. Grant was very foolish to walk into that kind of trap. What kind of leader of an opposition party can you be when 10 days before the election you could be in your opponent’s suite in a hotel? Your grandchild wouldn’t make such a stupid mistake.
The historian and educator opined that Grant’s lapse in judgment on such a crucial issue is indicative of his inability to properly and justly lead the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis.
“This is his own future he threw away there. And if he could do that to himself, what will he do with me? That is a big risk he took to leave Sandy Point, travel to Frigate Bay, go into the Marriott in a room where he thought he was private and strike a deal like that. Fortunately for him, one of Douglas’ own men tipped him off so that he could come the Sunday night and say… see what they were trying to do with me. That was his trial and he failed, and once you fail in politics once, you done with it. When it comes to politics, political leadership, one strike and you are out.
“You see him there sitting down like a little boy in front of his headmaster. They blot out the headmaster’s face but he is there sitting down sipping whether it is, wine or water, in front of the man in Douglas’ room. Douglas’ room…they wired up and invite the man there. What kind of leader could you be to fall in such a trap? How could I trust you with my life and my children’s future when you could be so stupid?”
Archibald said his “180 degree” turn was necessary if he were to stay true to his principle of “calling a spade a spade”.
“I said I am not a blind backer of anybody. I use to support Douglas until I found him to be corrupt and vindictive and stupid. So I withdrew my support from him because I believe that this is supposed to be your civic duty. You are not supposed to be a diehard supporter of any politician. You should be able to assess a politician now and say whether or not you like how he stands and I will support him now. But between now and then when you go to do it again, you have to assess him again.”
The social commentator called upon members of the People’s Action Movement to ask Grant to resign from the leadership of the party and also resign as candidate for Constituency Number Four, on a matter of principle.
“I would like the People’s Action movement to take the initiative and show St. Kitts and Nevis that they are in the fight of principle. They must demonstrate that to the country that their first priority is principle.”
