NIP to be voice of reason, promote integrity and honesty in government
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – VOTERS across the eight constituencies on St. Kitts are likely to have additional options with the recent formation of a new political party called the National Integrity Party (NIP).
The official announcement was made yesterday (Apr. 26) on Freedom FM’s Issues programme where two of the party’s members, Leader Glenroy Blanchette and Roy Flemming made appearances.
Both men were among five members of St. Kitts’ main opposition party the People’s Action Movement (PAM), who were reportedly axed therefrom after speaking out against what they believed to be corrupt practices of that party’s then leader, Lindsay F. Grant.
The infant party has as its theme “Restoring honesty, truth and integrity in government” and Flemming explained the reason behind the inclusion of the word ‘integrity’ in the party’s name.
“…Integrity, we had to put that word in there because this party was formed out of the anti-corruption campaign which we mounted while we were just at the end of our stint with the People’s Action Movement. The story is well known. We do not condone corruption in any way. As a matter of fact, we would like to see corruption and corrupt practices eradicated totally from the political landscape.
“If you have to look worldwide…political corruption – I would say – contributes to the downfall of many a government the world all over, and we think it is critical that the issue of corruption be set in the minds of the electorate in terms of who they would want to elect as their representatives in government.”
Blanchette explained that the party is an answer to the call for “strong opposition” and “constructive opposition” in St. Kitts and it has every intention of nipping in the bud issues of dishonesty, lack of integrity and disingenuous practices which have characterised government.
He said it is also aimed at ending “the present polarised political culture that exists in our nation”.
“And so we are at the height right now of the…silly season and there is a lot of political posturing going around, a lot of propaganda from the present government and those on the other side. But in all of it…we sense that there needs to be some voice of reason. There are those who do not like the present charged atmosphere which is very combative. And so there needs to be another voice out there, another voice of reason which is saying to the nation, ‘Hey, there is a different way. We can take a different path to ensuring stability and progress in our nation.’ And so we believe that the National Integrity Party is about that kind of politics and that is the direction in which we are heading.”
Blanchette, the NIP representative for St. Christopher One, indicated that the party is still in the preparatory stage but believes that with elections being constitutionally due in 2015, there is enough time for the party to declare its position on specific issues and has its representatives nominated.
And Flemming, the NIP representative for St. Christopher Two, confidently expressed that his party has every intention of fielding a full slate of candidates and “whenever elections are called the National Integrity Party would be ready”.
