BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE recently-nominated St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s Candidate for St. Christopher Three (West Basseterre), Konris Maynard, is of the view that the aim of the political parties that make up the Unity Construct is to remove Prime Minister Denzil Douglas from Office and not to unite the citizens and resident of the twin-island Federation.
Maynard was at the time delivering his acceptance speech as the Labour Candidate for St. Christopher Three at the Twilight Conference Hall in Lime Kiln on Thursday (Oct. 3).
“We have now seen the unveiling of a construct of joint forces between the Concerned Citizens Movement, the People’s Action Movement, and the PLP. My life, as most of you know it, is one that has been predicated on love and unity. All of my creative works have been, in some form or the other, geared toward bringing my fellow citizens closer together as one people. I hate no one. I waste no time being disgusted of others. I wish ill or evil on no one. My cup is a cup of love.
“Now, I believe in unity! Unity in strength, unity in purpose, unity in struggles, unity in triumphs, unity. Therefore, if this collection of Members of Parliament wish to call themselves a Unity Party, a Unity Construct, a Unity Government, they have all right to do so. What I am interested in is what cause are they unified for or against? What has brought on this cuddling of unlikely bed fellows? Will this cause stand the test of time? Or is it dependent on singular events such that if these events are pulled away tomorrow the argument for unity falls through. For me it is clear; this is a unified effort against the Right Honorable Dr. Denzil Douglas, Full Stop.”
He however noted that it is the Unity Construct members’ prerogative if they are convicted that their fight must be against Dr. Douglas.
“What I do not accept, as some are trying to suggest, is that this call for unity is for some far reaching all-encompassing nationalistic goal that will fundamentally change the political, social, and or economic landscape of our twin-isles for the advancement of the masses.
“This is not a unity construct meant to bring Cayon, Sandy Point, Brown Hill, St. Johnston Village and St. Paul’s people together; this is not a unity construct that is geared toward making the Federation energy-independent; this is not a unity construct to make us a net exporter of food instead of a net importer; this is not a unity construct that wants to ensure that everyone has an equal vote at the polls where a vote in Constituency Eight is no less powerful than a vote in Constituency Five because of imbalances in the population of these constituencies; this is not a unity construct that wants to see the end to secession talks between St. Kitts and Nevis, as we see that the unity construct has lifelong secessionists in its midst; this is not a unity construct to bring my entire country together. This is a unity construct against Douglas,” he added.
Maynard told the large gathering of Labour Party stalwarts and supporters, among whom were PM Douglas, Deputy PM Dr. Asim Martin, Ministers Marcella Liburd, Nigel Carty and Richard ‘Ricky’ Skerritt, that members of the Unity Construct are in opposition and they must find negative things to say, even if they do not exist, because an opposition’s goal is to get into power.
“Comrades, we live in a democracy. Do not buy into the notion that we should all be a part of one united party. That is anarchy! We must have a choice and the choice is now clear,” he stressed.
Directing his comments to the People’s Action Movement, Maynard emphasised that that political party lacks leadership and the ability to win an election.
“The People’s Action Movement has recently admitted that it is incapable of rallying the support of the masses in order to form the next government of our Federation. It is quite telling that after almost 18 years out of government they do not have the momentum to get swept into power by the electorate. In my humblest of opinions, they lack the leadership that I am yearning for in my country. In fact, such is the woefulness of the leadership that even, as the Unity Construct has been unveiled, the majority shareholder in the Unity Construct, PAM, was not able to provide the leader!”
Maynard also took a swipe at the Deputy Premier of Nevis and Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly, the Hon. Mark Brantley, who at the Launch of the Unity Team at Greenlands Park told a massive crowd to inform PM Douglas that a new sheriff is in town.
“Someone told me that there is a gentleman who claims to be the new sheriff in town; Please advise him that every sheriff must answer to De King and the King has arrived.”
