BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HAVING his election to Political Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) ratified on Sunday (Sept 30), the Hon. Shawn K. Richards has made a clarion call for shoulders to be put to the plough to rescue the Federation from the fiscal, political and other quagmires within which it dwells.
Richards was elected Political Leader on Sunday, September 23 during a Special Delegates Convention and his election was unanimously ratified during a Special Convention held at the PAM’s Headquarters.
Richards delivered a lengthy speech following the ratification process, nearing the end of which he called for a unified front in tackling the fiscal and other issues that plague the twin-island Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis.
He expressed that he would not relent in challenging Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas but, in the meantime, his plan of action includes developing a more vibrant PAM which would include the younger generation; a political party which would embrace all.
“The new PAM is not a party for just business or for just certain communities on this island. The new PAM that we are going to build together is a party for all of our people. If you’re in St. Paul’s or Basseterre, Cayon or Challengers, we will develop new policies that speak to you and your needs. It is time to put an end to victimisation and discrimination. I extend the hand of friendship to all Kittitians and Nevisians regardless of political affiliation to join me in building a bigger and better St. Kitts and Nevis. This is the new PAM that we will build together…the new PAM that will be ready, willing and able to win the next general election and restore honour and dignity to the office of the Prime Ministership.”
PAM’s Political Leader - who serves as Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Five - has proposed a three-point action plan, the first of which would be executed through the legislative arm of government.
“We will be a Sunshine Government. We will introduce a series of good government laws to ensure that the corruption and thievery that has been the hallmark of the Denzil Douglas Administration comes to an end. This will include protection for whistle-blowers…make the contract tendering process public to put an end to politicians lining their pockets and that of their friends.”
Noting that St. Christopher and Nevis has earned the reputation of having the worst crime rate in the Caribbean, and in an effort to address that he proposes that a programme dubbed Operation Ceasefire be implemented.
“We will end the crime and murder crisis in this country. We have the worst crime rate in the entire Caribbean! It doesn’t have to be that way. We must implement Operation Ceasefire, which is a crime fighting strategy that helped cut violence in several American cities in half. It directly addressed the gun problem and the gang problem. We must do a comprehensive overhaul of our police force, because, my friends, it’s not working. We must make sure our police are not corrupt and properly trained. We will do this. And together we will take back our streets.”
Job creation was the third prong of Richard’s plan of action.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs...We will create a jobs corps programme in this country that includes 1) training, 2) job placement and 3) job creation through investments in infrastructure. We will look to develop an international business sector by strengthening our financial regulatory environment. This will bring investment and capital to our country, and with that investment there will be more construction, hospitality and service jobs of our time.”
The PAM Leader acknowledged that the task ahead is difficult, but he did not discard it as insurmountable. He said unity is the key in accomplishing these goals.
“My fellow Kittitians and Nevisians, there will be great challenges in the future, but I know that together we can face them and build the new PAM…and the new St. Kitts and evis that we are all so hungry for. Come with me and together we can introduce a sunshine government… tackle the crime and murder crisis and create jobs for our people.”
