"I recognise that members of the opposition party have been deliberately spreading false information about the status of the impending referendum vote," said the Premier in a radio and television broadcast that was aired Thursday evening.

"Let me make it quite clear to all persons who are eligible to vote in the referendum that your Government has no intentions of backing away from this mandate that you have bestowed upon us, or even delaying it as it is being peddled by the opposition," commented Premier Amory.

He observed that at several of the town hall meetings, Nevisians have clearly requested the Administration to give them more time to discuss the issue, and as party that is guided by the wishes of the electorate, it was natural that Nevisians are adequately prepared and given time to make their input on this important decision, and added: "But we are not ready to let them down by delaying it a day longer than is necessary."

The Premier recalled that in an unofficial referendum held in 1977 and called by the Nevis Reformation Party, that Nevisians had overwhelmingly voted 'yes' in favour of secession from St. Kitts.

"The same party that had lured us to test the waters at that time was instrumental in calling for a 'no' vote in 1998, denying Nevisians the right to be masters of their own destiny by a mere 5 percentage points," lamented Premier Amory.

"They are now back with the same propaganda but we have listened to the cries of our people and more than ever before we are convinced that the time to act is now, to allow for Nevis to take its rightful place in the international arena as the world realigns itself from an economic standpoint. There is no looking back," said the Premier.

The administration in Nevis, noted the Premier, in responding to the wishes of the electorate that gave it a third term in 2001 with the independence for Nevis being high on the agenda, and he reported that the administration had constitutionally brought the issue of independence for Nevis on the front burner.

"At the behest of members of the public, the Cabinet of your Government has allowed for open discussions through town hall meetings, and these will continue until we are able to satisfy ourselves that all the people have been given equal chance to bring to the fore their suggestions and also to raise their concerns," observed the Premier.

"This is a constitutional requirement and should not be construed as a suggestion that we are slowing down the process in any way. This is a very critical moment for our families, our communities, our island and Nevisians in the Diaspora and we cannot betray the trust you all have placed on us," advised Premier Amory.

He recalled that in his New Year's message he had said that 2004 is the year for new beginnings and a year for decision-making, stressing that it is important for Nevisians to note that they have come to their crossroads and it would be necessary for them to take the right road that would lead them to achieve their full potential by taking full control of their affairs.

"If we were to stall this push to independence for the island of Nevis, we would be failing generations past who in their wisdom recognised that while St. Kitts and Nevis got rid of the colonial yoke at the dawn of independence in 1983, Nevisians would remain in a political sleep; paralysed where we would not able to do what is within our power to do and thus Section 113 was inserted in the Constitution," he said. "We would also be failing generations to come and history will judge us harshly."

According to Premier Amory, Nevisians are a resilient people who have worked hard to uplift the status of their island and who are ready to expand on the economic achievements they have gained, upon being given the fundamental right of being masters of their own destiny.

"We will be well positioned to ensure that we are competitive internationally without having to have clearance from our own brothers who are also working hard to ensure that their population is as well off and are competing with us in this area," noted the Premier.

On gaining independence Nevisians would be in a better position to give employment to all the people and allow for more of their brothers from the region to come in and share in their success by earning higher wages and that Nevis would be able to compete in a global economy and help ensure a dignified and secure retirement of its elderly who gave all to put the island on an equal footing with the more advantageous states that have independence as key to greater heights.

The CCM's political leader ended by reminding all people who are eligible to vote to attend town hall meetings in all the districts as the future beckons them with all of its responsibilities, "and based on our resolve we can overcome and succeed. We have come to a crossroads and we will ensure that all our people are properly informed so that they can make the correct decision when the time comes."