BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - LEADING Opposition party in St. Kitts, the People’s Action Movement (PAM), today unveiled its planned ministerial appointments if it were to come into office after the upcoming General Elections.
Speaking at a press conference this morning at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel, PAM Political Leader Lindsay Grant said that the party’s candidates would be “prepared to hit the ground running from day one” if they were to be elected.
Constituency Number One candidate for PAM, Glenroy Blanchette, was assigned the Ministries of Health, Gender Affairs and Social Services, while the candidate for Constituency Number Two, Roy Fleming, was appointed to the Ministries of Immigration, Labour, Culture and Community Affairs.
Fleming noted in his brief remarks that the freedom of movement for Caricom nationals was of utmost importance to him, as would be overcoming the marginalisation of youths and the elderly across St. Kitts.
Bernard Welsh, PAM candidate for Constituency Number Three, would take up Public Works and Utilities as his portfolio if his party were to form the new government. He stated that “transparency” in the those ministries, under his guidance, would lead to more efficient and cheaper utility services for the nation, as well as infrastructure projects that “give the people more value for their money”.
Grant indicated during the press conference that he planned to head the Ministries of National Security, Tourism and Sustainable Development, and would implement an “aggressive” new strategy to fight crime and violence.
According to the Political Leader, this plan includes hiring more police officers, providing better working conditions for the security forces, aggressively pursuing criminals and the cessation of government ministers “interfering with the police”.
The Hon. Shawn Richards, who is the current elected representative for Constituency Number Five, would manage the Ministries of Finance, Economic Planning and Industry and Commerce. Richards said that “our economic affairs and social conditions are in critical need of corrective measures”.
“Contrary to popular belief, our public debt that is 179 percent of [Growth Domestic Product] is not the result of any meaningful development, but rather is a serious threat to our development. “The credit facilities and negotiation capacity that we need to refinance the public debt and reestablish credibility with our creditors will only come with a new PAM government in office,” he stated.
The Constituency Number Six candidate, Junie Hodge, would be appointed to the Ministries of Sports and Youth, and he outlined an ambitious plan to build swimming, motor sport and multi-purpose indoor sporting facilities in St. Kitts if elected. He also said that reintroducing the DARE programme would be a crucial way he would help guide youths away from drugs and violence.
Constituency Number Seven candidate Ronald ‘Louie’ Williams would head the Ministries of Education and Information.
He said that many persons had become “disillusioned with the education system” and it would be his goal to reduce class sizes, reward hardworking teachers and principals, upgrade the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College to a full university and ensure that the nation’s education system was not used as an “assembly line” for high examination scores without regard to individual learning needs.
Deputy Leader of PAM and Constituency Number Eight candidate Eugene Hamilton would head Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands, Housing and Social Security. He stated that housing development would continue under his watch, but would allow low income families to become empowered rather than dependent upon government.
With his Shadow Cabinet standing behind him, Grant stated that the general public could be assured that the PAM party is “prepared to serve, ready to govern”.
“Over the past few years we have put together a team of community and social leaders…of varying backgrounds and experiences, to provide the stable leadership that St. Kitts and Nevis is severely lacking at this present moment,” he said.
