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CCM party supporters congratulate their political leader, Premier Vance Amory (centre with back to the tree), before the start of CCM’s island-wide celebration motorcade. |
Charlestown Nevis (October 26, 2004) -- Having retained two of the three Federal seats on Nevis during Monday’s Federal Elections, political leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) party, the Hon Mr Vance Amory, said that the win has consolidated the party’s position, thus allowing it to look to the future.
“I feel that the results in St. Kitts tell us that we have to look after ourselves and we will do it,” commented Premier Amory Tuesday afternoon in Charlestown, as supporters of the party prepared for an island-wide celebration motorcade. “We certainly have to also begin to talk to our people about the independence of Nevis. The referendum has to be the next thing in line.”
Premier Amory retained his Nevis 10 (St. George’s) seat comfortably by garnering 498 votes against Nevis Reformation Party’s candidate, Mr Miguel Mills, who received 160 votes. The St. George’s results were the first to be announced by the (Federal) Supervisor of Elections, Pastor Leroy Benjamin, at 10:12 p.m. on Monday.
Nevis 11 (St. Thomas’ and St. James’) results were second to be announced at 10:44 p.m., where NRP’s candidate, the Hon Mr Patrice Nisbett, retained his seat by winning a total of 667 votes against CCM’s candidate, the Hon Jean Harris, who received 498 votes.
The third results to be released nationally, were those of Nevis 9 (St. John’s and St. Paul’s), Tuesday morning at 12:26 a.m., where the incumbent the Hon Mr Malcolm Guishard of the CCM beat his challenger, Mr Hensley Daniel of the NRP by an increased majority over their 2000’s performance for the same seat. Guishard scored 986 votes while Daniel received 861 votes.
As overjoyed CCM supported congregated outside Reliable Motors on Bath Road on Tuesday afternoon where they congratulated their two winning candidates, Premier Amory observed that after this win, the immediate step would be to set out a schedule for consolidating the constituencies.
He explained that this would be achieved “by looking at the programmes, which we have to ensure that they reach the young people and try to encourage the young people to participate in training, and in the opportunities which are created. We also need to ensure that our people see themselves as potentially a great people: small in population but also great in potential.”
According to the Premier, his government will have to strengthen training and its outreach to ensure that Nevis gets foreign and domestic investment, and to take up the new thrust in development, including tourism, offshore, and the thrust in local investment whether it is in support system or creative and manufacturing systems.
“I am satisfied that our people will rise to the occasion,” commented the Premier. “But then we look also, two years down the road at the local elections for 2006, because that is important and we have to strengthen the party base. We have to ensure that we bring new blood into the party and that we remain visible at all times. I think this is going to be important for us.”
Judging by the developmental strides that Nevis has taken so far, Premier Amory said that “I am satisfied that we can deliver on the development, tourism and other businesses and this is going to be a great five years for the people of Nevis.”
