BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - LEADER of the People's Action Movement (PAM) Hon. Shawn K. Richards on Tuesday (Apr. 9) shed light on some of the issues to be tackled if a government of national unity were to be formed.
He did this at a press conference held at the Ocean Terrace Inn by the Elected Majority along with PAM’s Senator Vincent Byron Jr.
This was in response to the question of why the Federation should elect a unity government at the next General Elections.
Richards said there are a number of reasons why they are advocating persons vote for a government of national unity, as there are a number of issues affecting the people of the twin-island Federation which they [unity government] could address.
"At the end of the day when all of the cursing would have finished, there are still a number of issues affecting the residents of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“For example, we have the high cost of electricity. And if one was to refer to the Motion of No Confidence resolution which has been tabled before the Parliament, this is one of the very same issue that we speak to and we note that there was need for a decrease in electricity which the Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas is not offering to the persons of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We, the persons represented here this morning (Tuesday), we give our commitment that as part of a government of national unity we will ensure that persons see a decrease in electricity rates here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We have spoken to the cost of living because we recognise that the cost of living in St. Kitts and Nevis is indeed very high. We see persons who go to the supermarket on a daily basis and can barely afford to buy the basic food necessities that they need. We are committed to ensuring that there is a decrease in the cost of food here in St. Kitts and Nevis and there are various mechanisms by which they can be pursued.”
He said it is their intention to look at the current rate of VAT and see what, if any, reduction could be offered to persons.
The PAM Leader said that the unity government would also be looking into the electoral reform, stating, “I don't think I have to convince persons in the Federation that indeed we need true and meaningful electoral reform here in St. Kitts and Nevis...not a reform which benefits one political party.”
“By having a government of national unity with representatives from the various political parties, that will help to ensure that we get reform which is beneficial to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and not to any single political party,” he added.
Richards also touched on the issue of term limits, which he said was also mentioned in the Motion of No Confidence, and that if a measure like that was in place, the nation would not be in the crisis it is in now.
In reference to the land-for-debt-swap, he said the Federation has a Prime Minister who came to Parliament and the representatives for the constituencies that were affected by the land swap were not even aware that land would be taken from their constituencies.
“With a government of national unity you would have that part of collaboration so that it does not come to a surprise from anyone across the political divide as to what is happening in their respective constituencies and what will ultimately affect their constituents,” he enunciated.
Richards posited that had the term limit been in place, the present Leader of the Federation would have no longer been the Prime Minister.
“We have spoken about integrity in public life, and the general consensus that under the government of national unity integrity in public life would be one of the first pieces of legislation that would be passed.
“No longer must the citizens of our country continue to wonder where the finances of this country have been spent and whether or not ministers of government have personally benefited from contracts, be it for roads or other infrastructural development here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Constitutional Reform...that is a question that we have had hanging over our head for quite some time. And with a government of national unity, I do believe that it is much easier to obtain this from the point of view that there are certain sections of the Constitution which would require a two-third majority in order to get change.”
He said that it is very easy for persons in the Federation to make issues political and that persons have a tendency to support issues based on the political party they are in favour of, rather than on the merit of the issue.
Richards said that with persons from the Concerned Citizens Movement, Labour and PAM, it would be easier to convince the electorate of certain meaningful changes that are needed to move the country forward, noting that they are also inviting persons from the Nevis Reformation Party to join them.
