BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE political Leader of the Federation disclaimed suggestions that he is in desperate need to change the electoral boundaries at this time because he doesn’t stand a chance at winning the government on the current boundaries, especially now that two of the more senior members of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) have severed ties and formed a party of their own.
Speaking on his ‘Ask the PM’ radio programme yesterday (Jul. 16), Prime Minister Douglas defended his government’s actions in seeking to have the boundaries realigned, explaining that it is being done in accordance with the highest law of the land, the Constitution.
“…this talk about boundaries and the Labour Government doing something wrong, that is absolute nonsense and I will defend whatever this government is doing at this time on the issue of boundaries anytime, anywhere, anyplace and in front of anybody, because what we are doing is constitutionally correct!”
Prime Minister and Leader of the SKNLP boasted that the electoral boundaries, as they currently are, are to his liking and that they are his. And as a matter of fact, it is with the current boundary alignment that he has been successful four consecutive times.
“And just in case they don’t understand, I have won elections as the Leader of our party; we have won elections four times on these boundaries. In other words, they are mine! I love them as they are. But I believe that it is the constitutionally-correct thing to do to change them, because the Constitution says they should be revisited every three to five years and I am carrying out what I believe is the constitutional responsibility given to the Prime Minister and in the government.
“If they want to run go court and try to stop it that is their business, because I don’t need the boundaries to lead the Labour Party into victory. I don’t! I have used the same boundaries on four different times and beat de heck outta dem! Four times we’ve done it! The boundaries are ours; we love them as they are. But we have a constitutional obligation to do what we have to do.”
The Prime Minister also issued a word to those who would attempt to seek to move the court in an attempt to stop the boundary realignment from taking place – as was the case in 2009.
“So they going running around like chickens that don’t have no head like the last time, running around, going to court, we goin’ stop him, we goin’ stop de boundaries, dey don’t understand the elections were already won. We aine need no boundaries. I aine need no boundary change, those are our boundaries! We have mastered them, in case they don’t understand.
“And I want to make the point that they think that because Condor and Harris have left the Labour Party that we need these boundaries to win. They don’t understand! If anybody understands the Labour Party and its leadership, we are a calculating, strategic-type of people. We don’t make a move until we know what the move is going to bring, so let they do and waste dey money in the Court on boundary change.”
