BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LONG-TIME Labour supporter and former Parliamentary Representative of Central Basseterre Dwyer Astaphan did not attend the party’s 78th Annual Conference because he received no invitation from party representatives.
“I was not invited to this year’s conference. I was not invited last year either. Normally, I receive documents beforehand, like a conference booklet and I would assist in drafting resolutions. That did not take place last year or this year,” Astaphan said.
Sunday’s (May 16) conference was held at the Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino under the theme “Commitment and efficiency today means greater advancement for all”.
Addresses were given by Party Chairman Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, professor at the University of the West Indies Dr. Neville Duncan and Party Leader and Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.
Though Astaphan did not run on Labour’s ticket for the January 25 election, he had represented the party in Constituency Two for the last 15 years. His absence at the conference was notable, as several former Labour candidates, including Dr. Norgen Wilson and Cedric Liburd, were visible.
Astaphan resigned as a government minister in August 2008 but continued to represent Central Basseterre in Parliament until the House was dissolved in December 2009.
Since his departure from Cabinet, the veteran politician has become one of the government’s harshest critics, especially against the leadership of PM Douglas. He has repeatedly called for Douglas to resign and hand over the reins of power to another qualified individual in the Labour camp.
Astaphan told SKNVibes that his decision to skip this year’s conference was borne out of his 2009 experience.
“It was very clear that [last year’s conference] was tightly orchestrated and managed with the intention of preventing full and frank discussion from the floor. I got the desire that there was the sense to marginalise me.”
He said he had started the internal discussion about leadership transition as early as 2004, before finally bringing it to the public’s attention five years later.
“The first person I raised it with was [Douglas] himself in a 2004 meeting. I also discussed it with people at all levels of the party. Having completed that process, I thought to bring it up at the full conference level. And finally in 2008 a meeting was held to discuss these matters.
“I brought the matter to the public in January 2009 because I thought I had brought it up sufficiently within the party. There may not have been sufficient appetite for it, so it did not go very far. But I know there is serious concern and they really want new leadership.”
Despite the party’s treatment of him, Astaphan stressed he would continue to support the philosophies and principles of the Labour Party.
He admitted that he and Douglas were no longer on friendly terms, but said as far as he was aware he was amicable with some high-ranking members of the party.
