BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE last General Elections held in the Federation were in 2010 and another is not constitutionally due until 2015. But are the current signs pointing to the possibility of one in 2013?
Over the past two months or so, the two main political parties on St. Kitts – the ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour party (SKNLP) and the People’s Action Movement (PAM) - have been engaging in activities which collectively suggest that general elections are looming and would be held before this year expires.
The SKNLP has held ‘Full Confidence’ political meetings in each of the eight constituencies, while the PAM has held four and officially launched its candidates for St. Christopher Two in the person of Jonel Powell and St. Christopher One in the person of Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd.
In speaking with members of the public, SKNVibes received mixed views on the current state of affairs, with some suggesting that the increase in the political meetings is indicative of fast-approaching general elections, while others suggest that it is all “a sham”.
“No, no, no! Elections will not be held before 2015 or it will be held very close that point. All of these political meetings we are seeing, it is all just a sham. I say that because Dr. Douglas already said the people gave him a mandate which he is going to fulfil,” one man expressed to this publication.
A young woman suggested otherwise. She told SKNVibes that the signs are too clear to be ignored.
“Yes the elections would be held before 2015. It feels very much like we are in election mode. It reminds me of past campaigns, especially the last election. So, judging from that, it is more than possible that the elections would be held before 2015, even this year.”
And her views were substantiated by an elderly man.
“I think elections would be called before 2015. The election mode has been replicated during this period. I have never seen political campaigns in a number of past years whereby just before Labour Day there are so many political meetings. But this year is vastly different and it has shown definitely they are in election campaign mode.”
Asked when he believes the elections would be called, the elderly man proposed an interesting perspective.
“I think it will be called shortly before the 2014 Budget because there was a problem with the one for this year which should have been tabled in December of 2012. You don’t want a problem again with this No Confidence Motion hanging over the head of the administration. So in order to avoid objections coming from the Opposition with what the government wants to do, Prime Minister Douglas - who preached about full confidence - would exhibit that belief by calling elections before.”
“I was speaking to my sisters and family about this same thing and elections will not be held until they are constitutionally due. All of these meetings and putting up of signs and so on, it is all just a show. Dr. Douglas will not call elections before they are constitutionally due,” a male street vender confidently expressed to SKNVibes.
A known and professed supporter of the SKNLP indicated that all the signs she has seen point to a near election.
“Don’t you see all these posters and so on and all of these political meetings? Labour usually has a meeting maybe the weekend before or the night before the Labour Day March if it is not an election year. So with all of these public meetings, this is an election year and I am voting Unity!”
Some suggested that the elections would be held on July 4 “while people are just coming off of the Music Festival high”, and a significant number others suggested July 9. Still some people express their belief that 2013 would have run its course before the elections are called.
But whatever the suggestion, belief or conviction, the date would not be publicly known until he who holds the election bell causes it to toll.
