BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris has reported that he and the Hon. Sam Condor’s recent hosting of three town hall meetings across the Diaspora has been overwhelmingly successful. He also highlighted the overseas nationals’ concern with a number of key happenings in their native land.
Condor and Harris, the Parliamentary Representatives for St. Christopher Three and Seven respectively, had left the Federation on Monday, May 13, 2013 to conduct town hall meetings in Canada, New York and Miami.
Having returned to the Federation, Harris informed that the meetings were fruitful and, while a wide cross-section of issues were discussed, the Prime Minister’s behaviour, the 2013 Budget, the Motion of No Confidence and the Unity Government concept took centre stage.
“The reception has been exceptional, warm and excellent. We had the opportunity last Friday (May 17) evening to meet the nationals in the Toronto area in Canada and there was a very good turnout...nigh 100 persons turned out. We had an interesting dialogue and conversation with that group…
“We had a wide cross section of nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis who showed up and who expressed their concerns over what was taking place in St. Kitts and Nevis. We found that there was overwhelming response to the budget and, of course, many of the nationals contest the behaviour of the Prime Minister; his conduct and behaviour which they found to be deplorable, and asked us by and large to focus on the issues of the day and how we could bring St. Kitts and Nevis forward.”
Commenting on the New York meeting, Dr. Harris divulged that the Motion of No Confidence and the political and economic crisis affecting the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis were some of the issues addressed.
“At the New York meeting we met with national there on Sunday (May 19) and, like the one in Toronto, it went on on an extensive basis. We had an opportunity again to speak with our nationals and bring them up to date regarding the political and economic crisis and what was happening with the Motion No Confidence, what were the government’s challenges with the country with regard to high unemployment, high national debt and consequences to the quality of life of our people. And we fielded questions from the large and enthusiastic group of nationals that were there.”
Concerning reasons for taking their campaign to the overseas-based community, Harris explained that “we are very much convinced that the nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis are going to play an important role in the upcoming election and, in fact, they always have done so. And so we thought that we use the opportunity to inform them, to bring them up to date and generally have a face-to-face encounter with them so that they can be better prepared to exercise their vote when the time comes.”
According to Harris, the Unity concept has caught on much quicker with nationals in the Diaspora than in St. Kitts-Nevis.
“We found that the people there were in an overwhelming majority calling for a new paradigm in the country and a new dispensation in St. Kitts and Nevis, and it certainly encourages us to continue the good work in terms of the programme.
“I find that there is quicker acceptance of the concept of Unity. In fact our nationals are nationals first, party comes after. They have experienced life in St. Kitts Nevis and they are well up to date with what has been happening in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Dr. Harris expressed thanks to the nationals abroad for their “warm hospitality and enduring interest in the issues” and has indicated that invitations have already been issued for both he and Condor to either return to the areas visited or to visit with other nationals in other parts of the Diaspora.
“We have already received invitation to come and celebrate with them as we celebrate our 30th anniversary of independence. We have had request from other persons in the US from as far out as Texas and Washington DC to come out and share with them. So we are hoping to do some other visits to other cities and to put forward the case. Other programmes on the ground and regionally.”
