BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE seventh General Election of St. Kitts and Nevis since independence (1983) is constitutionally due five years after the opening of the last Parliament in December 2004, but the incumbent government has 90 days after the dissolution of Parliament to call the election.
This fact therefore gives the ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party the option to either call election anytime during this year or as late as March 2010.
At this time, while some contesting political parties and independent candidates on both isles are preparing their campaign strategies, executives of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) have already started theirs with the ‘Silent Chair’, a chained car with mounted billboard, and placard-bearing young men with taped mouths seen in populated areas around St. Kitts.
Town hall meetings are being held by the Labour Party, the PAM, the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), but, so far, the United National Empowerment Party (UNEP) has not been vocal even though Dr. Browne said they would be contesting.
And as the election date approaches, the nation has seen a number of significant developments, including Dwyer Astaphan’s statements and allegations against Prime Minister Douglas, and some pundits claim that there would be a fundamental shift in the political landscape of the twin-island Federation.
Many questions have arisen from these developments and discussions are held on a regular basis in all quarters of the Federation - from bars to bedrooms - on the Labour Party’s present position and also the outcome of the upcoming General Election.
Among those questions are:
• What if Parry decides to contest in the upcoming General Election?
• What if the upcoming General Election resulted in Labour winning five seats, PAM three, NRP one and CCM two?
• What if the upcoming General Election resulted in Labour winning five seats, PAM three, NRP two and CCM one?
• What if the upcoming General Election resulted in a tie (Labour 4 and PAM 4) and the NRP or CCM wins two seats, which party will either of the two form a coalition government?
• What if there is a tie between Labour and PAM, will there be a repetition of 1993?
• What if the CCM wins all three seats on Nevis and decides to merge with either party, will there still be a demand for secession?
• What if either party on Nevis wins the three seats and decides to merge with the PAM under the condition that a Nevisian must be the Prime Minister?
• What if Astaphan’s statements and allegations have only been made public because he is now entitled as a MP to full benefits, then what is his agenda?
• What if Astaphan’s allegations concerning Douglas’ Cabinet leadership were authentic, will other Labour MPs go public?
• What if Douglas decides to resign as PM and Leader of the Labour Party, who will fill the vacancies?
• What if Douglas does not resign, will Astaphan still support the Labour Party and canvass for his successor?
• What if Astaphan decides to contest as an Independent Candidate in the upcoming General Election, will this cause a division among Labour’s supporters?
• What if a group from the Labour Party visits the Governor-General and sides with Astaphan?
These questions need answers, and it is believed that answers might only be available following the outcome of the General Election which may or may not cause a fundamental shift in the political landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis.
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