BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HISTORY was made on Thursday night (Sept. 26) when three political parties in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), the People’s Labour Party (PLP) and the People’s Action Movement (PAM) came together on one platform and declared that “a new day has dawned” in the socio-political development of the country.
United on one platform before an excited and humongous crowd of thousands, nine candidates of the three political parties said that the time has come to end “the partisan politics” and “political tribalism” that is destroying the country.
One after the other they took to the rostrum to speak: Shawn Richards, Lindsay Grant, Eugene Hamilton, Jonel Powell and Cyndie Demming speaking for the candidate for St, Christopher Six (who she referred to as Mr. V) of the PAM; Mark Brantley, Alexis Jeffers and Vance Amory (via communique) of the CCM; and Dr. Timothy Harris and Sam Condor of the PLP.
The Unity Movement was endorsed by former Prime Minister Sir. Dr. Kennedy Simmonds and by a Tony Ross who resides in Canada. Both men spoke to respecting the Constitution and ending the political tribalism.
The moment for which many people were waiting arrived when Leader of the PLP, Dr. Timothy Harris was announced as the Unity Movement Leader by Mark Brantley to the raucous cheers of the crowd.
Brantley, who is the Deputy Premier of Nevis and Deputy Leader of the CCM, was named as one of the Deputy Leaders of the Unity Movement, while Leader of the PAM, Shawn Richards was named as the other Deputy Leader.
“This is not a time for division. This is not a time for any one party. This is a time to think about the country. When we reflect on the past 18 years in this country, it is sad; the rich has become richer; the middle-class has become poorer; and the poor has become poorer…I have never seen things so bad in this country and it’s all because of the failed economic policies of this present administration,” said Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, candidate for Constituency Number One, East Basseterre.
Jonel Powell, candidate for Constituency Number Two, Central Basseterre, said that the country was united because everyone was feeling the brunt of economic hardship.
“The Douglas Administration has failed in this country. The VAT (Value Added Tax) doesn’t know any difference between PAM and Labour, CCM and NRP. The high cost of living doesn’t know the difference between PAM and Labour, CCM and NRP. The high rates of electricity don’t know the difference between PAM and Labour, CCM and NRP. That is why we have to come together as one people. We are at a pivotal point in this country,” Powell said.
Former Leader of the PAM and candidate for Constituency Number Four, Lindsay Grant said that “today is an historic day in our Federation. We have had enough of the partisan politics that have been destroying our country…and so we have come together to ensure that the next generation of Kittitians and Nevisians is protected. Today’s historic event is about saving the land that we love. We are here today because of your call, your clarion call to us. The day of reckoning is fast approaching us when you will be called on to give your vote”.
Premier of Nevis, Vance Amory, unable to attend the launch because he was in the United Kingdom on government business, but Chairman of the CCM, Steadroy Tross read a communiqué from the Premier, who said he was totally committed to the cause of unity.
“This marks a new development in the socio-political development of our country. This arrangement is different from the coalition governments that have been formed over the years. It is not a structure born out of convenience but rather one that is of necessity to break the political tribalism, political nepotism which have polarised our people in the past,” Amory said.
He said that the time has come for “a new beginning” and an “inclusive approach” and that the unity structure was about “new thinking” in governance with a “broader vision and perspective.”
Eugene Hamilton, the candidate for Constituency Number Eight, who beat Cedric Liburd in the 2010 General Elections, danced to one of Mark the First calypsos of 1983 that spoke to unity.
“Tonight, I stand on this stage on this historic occasion shoulder to shoulder, locked in arms with my brothers from CCM in Nevis, locked in arms with my brothers from PLP,” Hamilton said.
“Together we bring hope and opportunity; together we will restore every penny to the sugar worker; together we will revitalise our the economy by incentivising families; together we will provide venture capital, especially to those who are young; together we can achieve full and comprehensive health insurance for the poorest of us in this nation. Together we will guarantee equitable share for Nevis; together we will lead the Caribbean in a new political paradigm,” he added.
Deputy Leader of the PLP and former Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Sam Condor said “this is one moment where we know we are on the right side of history”.
Condor too spoke of “a new beginning” and that “we have to take our destiny in our own hands.” He said that “where there is a will, there is a way to lead the country back to prosperity”.
“I have no illusions about the challenging times ahead. I know there are going to be difficult times but together we can face the future because I continue to have faith in Almighty God. I continue to keep hope alive. I trust the wisdom and the judgment of the ordinary folks of this country who have called for unity because they believe unity is the answer to our problem. I say to you, courage brothers, courage sisters. The darkest hour will seize the dawn. The light will come shining through again…It will be better together and together better,” Condor said.
Alexis Jeffers, CCM representative for Constituency Number 11 said he is confident that change would come about in the next elections.
“Tonight represents a new beginning in the history of this country. Tonight represents a new era in the political landscape of this country. After this election, we will have a new representative (referring to himself) in the Federal Parliament,” Jeffers said.
Leader of the PAM Shawn Richards said, “We are committed to the Unity Concept. Tonight we meet hoping that change will come, must come in St. Kitts and Nevis...We have a sacred duty to rid ourselves of that scourge by the name of Denzil Douglas. No longer can we allow in this country citizens to suffer under broken promises, ridiculous and ineffective policies, general ineptitude and discredited philosophy.”
Brantley asked the people to be vigilant and said that “this campaign of unity has just started tonight. It is time to live out our creed of ‘Country above Self’. This is our golden opportunity. This is the time for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to come together like never before. What you have seen unfold in Nevis is a precursor to what you will see in St. Kitts”.
The man of the moment, Leader of the PLP, Dr. Timothy Harris spoke last.
“What we have started here will not end tonight. The seed has been planted on fertile ground and it will grow and it will blossom and it will bear fruit and the generation coming after us will find a kinder, gentler, nicer St. Kitts and Nevis in which to live. They will find a St. Kitts and Nevis to which they want to stay wedded”.
Harris said that the first priority of his government, if elected to office, would be putting the economy to work again.
“Our number one priority will be getting our economy to work again. St. Kitts and Nevis has had negative growth year after year. Negative growth means less money in your pockets, less business for your hairdressing salons, your barbershops and your supermarkets. It means less money in circulation and your businesses suffering from bad credit, insolvency and eventually bankruptcy. That is why so many small businesses have closed. The economy is bad.”
