BASSETERRE, St.Kitts, July 5th 2010 (PAM Secretariat Press Release) - The St.Kitts-Nevis opposition party People’s Action Movement’s 45th annual convention was on Sunday punctuated by an energetic, thought-provoking and inspiring speech by the country’s first Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds.
The former leader enlightened the extremely enthusiastic and excited crowd on some of his own trials and tribulations while leading the People’s Action Movement in opposition during it’s most turbulent and challenging times in the era Premier Robert L. Bradshaw era.
Dr. Simmonds stated the fact that the People’s Action Movement’s core principles of “Putting people first and providing them with relief” has remained constant throughout the 45 year existence of the party.
The 75 year old former party leader highlighted some of the proposed policies that were detailed in the party’s manifesto including land sales to nationals at 99cents per sq ft, removal of import duties on food and 25% decrease on low income home payments. He declared that these policies are well in line with the party’s principles since inception of providing relief for the people and putting the interests of the people first. The former Leeward Island Scholar said that any gov’t which is concerned about the burdens borne by it’s citizens does not further burden the citizens in tough times with additional taxes like the VAT. Rather they provide relief such as what PAM proposed in their 2010 manifesto.
The founding member of the party also gave his position on the recent situation involving the party leadership.
“The People’s Action Movement is in strong, capable hands with Lindsay Grant,” said Sir Simmonds to a rousing round of applause, in reference to the recent so called challenge brought by 5 candidates to the leadership of Mr. Grant.
Sir Kennedy said that he has little patience with anyone who would, under the current circumstances that the party was facing, seek to challenge the leadership of the party especially in the manner that it was done . He said that asking for the leader to step down without consulting the constituents and offering up alternatives is simply brewing a deadly cocktail of anarchy and confusion within the party and even the country.
Dr. Simmonds pointed to People’s Action Movement Deputy Leaders the Hon. Eugene Hamilton and Hon. Shawn K. Richards and lauded the parliamentarians on their success at the polls and declared to the approval of the hundreds in attendance that Richards and Hamilton were properly elected. He then turned to Party Leader Lindsay Grant who is challenging the polls in his constituency where he lost by twenty nine votes and stoutly said , “You know, I know, Labour know, the dissidents know that Lindsay Grant was properly elected!”
Dr. Simmonds mentioned his experience in Constituency #4 on Election day when he observed the intimidating presence of the Police and Army. He said that Dr. Douglas would do anything and everything to win an election and passionately and resolutely called on party leader Lindsay Grant, to fight his election petition case “to the bitter end.”
The former leader said that unity and commitment was paramount for the success of the party.
Rt. Hon Dr. Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds was the first Prime Minister of the federation of St.Kitts-Nevis and led the country from 1980-1995.
