BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SOME 600 delegates and 150 guests from the diplomatic and consular corps, business and other non-governmental organisations were present at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino for yesterday’s (May 17) annual St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) Conference, where Dr. Denzil Douglas was re-elected Leader of the ruling party.
Held under the theme “Capable Hands in Serious Times”, the 77th edition of the Conference featured colourful musical entertainment and rousing presentations from a number of luminaries.
In officially opening the day’s proceedings, SKNLP Chairman Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris paid homage to SKNLP forebears such as Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore and the Right Honourable His Excellency Sir Robert L. Bradshaw.
“We owe where we are today to their vision. We owe it to their industry. We owe it to their dedication,” he noted.
While addressing the eager crowd of delegates, the featured speaker, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, stressed his allegiance to the SKNLP, calling himself “a Labour man” and urged them to vote for a Labour victory in the upcoming general elections.
Douglas’s annual Conference message centred on the numerous developments and advances the SKNLP had delivered for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. He also implored persons to unite to ensure that the next government of St. Kitts and Nevis is a Labour administration.
“Labour has started this task of transformation and we have won high marks from the International Monetary Fund. We have won high marks from the Caribbean Development Bank. We have won high marks from the United Nations and a host of impartial observers, analysts, and prognosticators. Most importantly, we have won high marks from you, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Labour has delivered in the past and, with your help, we will continue to deliver in the future...we have had 77 years of maturity and experience. And so, as the country gets ready to choose the next government, Labour’s delegates need to be mobilised,” declared Douglas.
After a brief lunch break, the business session of the Conference commenced. Delegates received reports from the National Executive, the Treasurer and Auditors and endorsed several resolutions from the various branches of the Party.
Douglas was elected as National Political Leader for the 21st consecutive year. Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor, Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and Minister of State Hon. Nigel Carty were re-elected as Deputy National Leader, National Chairman and National Vice-Chairman, respectively.
National Secretary Wanda Connor, National Assistant Secretary Joseph O’Flaherty and National Treasurer Kirt Lewis retained their seats, while Eugenie Condor, Jason Hamilton and Hazel Ross-Robinson were also re-elected.
