BASSETRRE, St. Kitts – THE recent formation of the National Integrity Party (NIP) was met with expressions of hope that the electorate of the Federation would have another viable option for good governance. But not long thereafter, the party came under fire as it was believed that its motives were far less than pure.
In late April, 2013, the NIP was formed with Glenroy Blanchette being named the Political Leader, Roy Fleming as Deputy Political Leader and Bernard Welsh as a member, all of whom are former members of the People’s Action Movement (PAM).
Both Blanchette and Fleming made pronouncements in the media relative to issues of the day and the stance that their party is taking. They also highlighted its theme and purpose which is “Restoring honesty, truth and integrity in government”.
The world over, “opposition” parties focus predominantly on gaining political power with a view to correcting the wrongs which they believe have been or are being perpetrated by the governments of the day. Their aim is providing a better social and economic environment in which the people of the country - over which they govern - can thrive.
As was the explanation given by the party’s Leader, the NIP is an answer to the call for strong and constructive opposition within the Federation.
It stands to reason then that a major part of the NIP’s aspiration would be to attain political office and a substantial part of its campaign would be to identify the areas in which the ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) would have failed the people of the land and present any corrective measures which they would employ, if given an opportunity.
Since its formation, the NIP – as it has a right to do – has launched an attack on the PAM and its leadership, claiming that it is inept and has engaged in corrupt practices. More recently, Fleming has promised to release information which would prove that the PAM has abandoned its cause and has surrendered its leadership to a former member of another party.
The complaint which reached not only this media house’s ears but has also echoed through the corridors of the Federation, is that the NIP has entered the political arena as a spoiler in the imminent General Elections.
While it is good to sensitise the public on what atrocities it believes were and are being perpetrated by the party in which they were candidates, their actions have created doubts in the minds of many about the NIP’s purpose.
Is it that this opposition party is to serve as a spoiler to the advantage of the opposition PAM or conversely - and equally possible - a spoiler for the advantage of the SKNLP?
It must be noted that while the NIP’s voice had not resonated concerning some matters, the party has not fallen silent on a number of pertinent issues on which the government is taking a flogging.
Earlier yesterday (Aug. 21), Blanchette – appearing on Freedom FM – defended his party, suggesting that people’s perception that it is pro-government disposition is false and to lend to that viewpoint he highlighted a number of areas on which the NIP’s ideologies differ from those of the government’s.
“…We have strongly challenged the government on several issues. We have called for the Motion of No Confidence to be debated expeditiously. As a matter of fact, we have said it should have been debated already. We have called for Integrity in Public Life legislation...we have called for other good governance legislation. These are issues we have put there contrary to the government. We have called for the elimination of VAT on food and medicine. These are not government positions…”
The former PAM candidate for St. Christopher One said the imposition of the agendas of others on his party would not be allowed.
“The National Integrity Party is a new political party in this Federation and we are not going to allow anybody to set our agenda. Just like how the People’s Action Movement and the PLP and others allow Prime Minister Douglas to set their agenda, we in the National Integrity Party will not allow anyone to set our agenda.
“We have a clear path as to how we are going to achieve our objectives, and so you find that Timothy Harris and Sam came out of the Labour Party and they are speaking to their experiences in the Labour Party. So is it wrong for us as the former members of PAM to speak about our experiences in the Party that we left?
“We are not speaking about our experiences…But we are continuing the work we have started since 2003 opposing the Labour Party administration, opposing Labour because we have a different ideology to Labour. So even though Tim and Sam have distanced themselves from Denzil Douglas, they have still maintained that they are Labour. So we do not support that ideology.”
In the NIP, some claim to hear the grinding of the proverbial axe while other claim to see the bidding of the incumbent being performed before their very eyes. And others observe innocence and goodwill being restored to the political landscape of the Federation.”
Whatever the external opinion however, Blanchette said the NIP has its objectives in sight and is bent on following the path towards achieving these goals.
“The problem is apparently they want us to follow their agenda, but we are not doing so. The NIP is firm in its position that we have our own agenda, we are clearly following a path to achieve those objectives we have set for ourselves and for the nation. And so we are not going to allow anybody to sidetrack us.”
