BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - “LET me say very clearly to those of you who think I am young and immature, you will quickly learn that I will be a formidable opponent.”
This sentiment was expressed by the newly-selected St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) candidate for St. Christopher Eight, Dr. Terrance Drew while speaking at a ceremony at the St. Peter’s Community Centre yesterday afternoon (July 28), which symbolically demonstrated the passing of the ‘baton’ from former Parliamentary Representative Cedric Liburd.
Over 200 individuals attended the event; most of whom hailed from districts within the constituency - Cayon, Keys, Conaree and host community St. Peter’s.
Among those who also attended the event were Prime Minister and Leader of the SKNLP, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Earl Asim Martin, Speaker of the National Assembly Curtis Martin, Minister of Community and Social Development Marcella Liburd and Dr. Drew’s family members, including his mother Ras Gerzel Pet Mills, aunt Jocelyn Mary Nisbett and his great aunt Vivian ‘Madge’ Foreman.
Family members of Cedric Liburd, including his wife Veronica, were also present.
“I am ready”, Dr. Drew said and asked the audience, “Are you ready?” and was given affirmation to his question through a resounding “yes” mixed thunderous applause and cheers from his well-wishers and supporters.
“We are coming and we are taking back what belongs to us…taking back our constituency,” the Labour Party’s candidate emphatically announced.
Dr. Drew told his fired up audience that “the campaign has begun!”
He identified focus areas of improvement in St. Christopher Eight, naming them as housing, land ownership, education, infrastructural development and farming.
He briefly elaborated on each area, stating that there is a “need for housing” and young people must have access to lands.
With respect to education, he pointed out that there are many intelligent young people in his constituency.
He acknowledged that there are some individuals who come from similar family background as his, noting that they do not have the financial resources to advance their education, to which he pledged to extend scholarships “to those who deserve it”.
As it relates to infrastructural development, he informed that jobs opportunity would be considered and given to all talented builders within the constituency.
And for agriculture, Dr. Drew shared that he is aware of the challenges that farmers face and gave assurance that he would do his part to better the agricultural sector in St. Christopher Eight.
With regards to the make-up of audience members, Dr. Drew highlighted that he was pleased to see that among those present were individuals who had not been involved in politics for years as well as those who may have been disheartened over the years.
Dr. Drew spoke about his “happiness” on how he felt to be speaking before his constituents at a meeting of that nature.
He commended Liburd for the work he did during his tenure, stating that “the time you served, you have done well”.
Liburd symbolically presented the campaign office keys to Dr. Drew.
He congratulated his successor and said he was pleased and proud to pass the baton to such a “smart, capable and ambitious young man”.
He expressed confidence that Dr. Drew is “ready to serve the people of Constituency Eight”.
Liburd also wished him good results following the next General Elections and also best wishes during his career in public office.
Dr. Douglas enthusiastically shouted, “I want Dr. Drew in Parliament with me!”
In endorsing Dr. Drew, he told the constituents of St. Christopher Eight that the Labour Party’s hopeful was born among, educated and chosen “by you”.
PM Douglas revealed that a June 2013 poll conducted in St. Christopher Eight, in which he listed Ottley’s, Cayon, Keys, Canada, Conaree and St. Peter’s, 60 percent of the constituents said they saw the Labour Party winning in the constituency following the next General Elections.
Chairperson of the SKNLP Diana Williams-Humphrey was in the Constituency’s candidacy race also.
The Labour Party Leader went on to say that when asked “who you will give your support…Dr. Drew emerged as the person you said you’ll give your support”.
