PM predicts landslide victory in Monday’s general election
PM Douglas at a rally
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, Feb 13, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas said the February 16 general elections will not be decided by the London-based Privy Council that on Thursday ruled that the twin island Federation must hold the polls using the old voters list and existing constituency boundaries.
Addressing a joint public meeting of his ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRF) here on Thursday night, Dr. Douglas who is seeking to become the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leader to serve as head of government for five consecutive terms, said he was still very confident of being victorious.
Douglas said that the Privy Council ruled that voters in the twin-island Federation had to elect a new government using “the old unfair, uneven boundaries.
“They of the opposition thought that they had some kind of victory, victory me foot, what victory, they thought that they won something, won what…labour and NRP are winning the elections, we are going to win the elections, we are wining, we are winning,” he told supporters.
In his first public address at a public meeting here for nearly two decades, Prime Minister Douglas predicted that the two parties, which have enfettered into a cooperation agreement “are going to win this election big”.
Th SKNLP and the NRP face a challenge from Team Unity, an amalgam of three opposition parties that include the main opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), the recently formed People’s Labour Party (PLP) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), the latter based here and controlling the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).
“We shall win all three candidates for the NRP and all eight candidates for the Labour Party,” he said, noting that both parties were building up a momentum that would be difficult to stop.
“I want you to understand that the elections will not be determined by some law lords up there in England. Those days are in the past when the colonial government in England determined what happened here on behalf of the people, those days are gone.
“And so it is you the people of Nevis and the people of St. Kitts, who will determine, who will form the government after the 16th day of February, on Monday,” he told supporters, insisting “we are going to win the elections big”.
Prime Minister Douglas said that if his party is returned to government, the island’s socio-economic situation would continue to improve significantly.
“The growth rate will dramatically increase no less than six per cent over the next few years, sustainable economic growth because he economy of St. Kitts-Nevis…will continue to progress forward,” he added.
Harris says Team Unity was prepared to go all the way to safeguard democracy
Dr. Harris under Team Unity banner
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Feb 13, CMC – Leader of the opposition grouping, Team Unity, Dr. Timothy Harris, said the opposition parties were prepared to “go all the way” to ensure that there would be free and fair elections in St. Kitts-Nevis on Monday.
Addressing a public meeting here on Thursday night, Harris welcomed the ruling of the London-based Privy Council delivered earlier in the day that the elections would be held on the old voters list and the existing constituency boundaries.
“We knew of the injustice and when we were asked how far we were prepared to go, we said on behalf of the young people of this country we will go all the way for justice.
“And all the way we did go. It was a good thing that we had the courage, we had the stamina and we had a keen sense of justice and so today when five lords heard our case they say the criminality that happened in our Parliament will not stand, back to the old boundaries.
“The victory is yours and on Monday you’ve got it and you must deliver it on Monday,” he told supporters.
The Privy Council was asked to rule on whether or not the Easter Caribbean Court of Appeal was correct to uphold the discharge of an interim injunction preventing the adoption of new electoral boundaries ahead of the February 16 general elections.
Timothy said that the island would have a public holiday on Tuesday in support of the electoral victory “and we shall put our country to work for all the young people .
“We shall deliver a better St. Kitts and Nevis, because the young man and young woman, the family deserve better and as your leader, you ask me how far I will go as prime minister to deliver your hopes…all the way…because our word is our bond”
Team Unity, an amalgam of three opposition parties that include the main opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), the recently formed People’s Labour Party (PLP) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), will seek to unseat the ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) that is seeking a fifth consecutive term in power.
