LOSER LINDSAY AND PAM BLUNDER AGAIN!
With much bluster and fan fare PAM brought Mr. Danville Walker, Director of Elections in Jamaica to discuss Electoral Reform here in the Federation and even their own guest speaker disagrees with their actions as a so called responsible political party.
Categorically, Mr. Walker chastised PAM for not taking part in the Electoral Process here in St. Kitts by citing that it is only by participation can parties feel that they have contributed to creating a system that reflects the wishes of the people.
All the points that PAM has, for months, run up and down the length and breadth of the Federation complaining about, were exposed by Mr. Walker as mere political ploys and smokescreens.
Very correctly, Mr. Walker pointed out that Electoral Reform is a process that is reflective of the obtaining circumstances in the particular country. There is no one size fits all system that can be employed and each territory must assess their needs based on their peculiar experiences.
So all Loser Lindsay and PAM have been saying that this country has this and that country has that is not relevant, simply because it worked in that country. According to Mr. Walker the real questions are whether something is applicable here and whether it addresses a short coming in our system
The one area which PAM had hoped he would lend support to their failing argument was on the issue of fingerprinting. But again PAM’s level of thought and debate was discredited.
Mr Walker quickly pointed out that fingerprinting, although effective at deterring fraud is not fool proof and is not necessary to guarantee transparent elections in a country the size of St. Kitts-Nevis.
Further, he emphasized that Jamaica only resorted to a fingerprint system because of the systemic corruption that had infiltrated their electoral system to the point that none of the political parties trusted the system.
This is quite a contrast to the situation existing in St. Kitts where all the major political parties have faith in the system except PAM for their own narrow political reasons.
Mr. Walker indicated that a litmus test for any system is whether it can manifest the people’s will to change a government.
Clearly, having had one change of government in the Federal Elections and two changes of government in the Nevis Island Administrations shows that the present system although not the most modern, still delivers the fair result.
Like any system however time has required it to be overhauled and thanks to the leadership of the Labour Party Government that reform process is under way.
Anyone who had doubts that The Electoral Reform process that has been initiated by Labour is not on the right path, should listen to Mr. Walker’s presentation and note the points for a credible system that have been discussed and introduced in our present reform process.
From proper supporting legislation, to national identification cards, to an upgraded data base, to the inclusion of the citizenry, is defining the process, to a revamping of the electoral list, to a vigilant objection process. All of these salient points have been covered in the reform process currently underway.
Perhaps rather than chastising PAM the country should thank them for extending their time and effort to bring an expert here to confirm what the Labour Party, the Concerned Citizens Movement and the Nevis Reformation Party have been saying and knowing all along, that the system we will have after the reform process is complete is one that is free and fair and free from fair and surely will guarantee “One man, One vote”.
