News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Tues. Dec. 12, 2017: Nationals on the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis will go to the polls next week to elect a new local government.
Voters will go to the polls on Dec. 18th. The ruling Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) will again face-off against the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), in the elections. This year, the CCM will be without its usual leader, Vance Amory, who is retiring after 30 years. He is being replaced at the head of the ballot by the deputy premier, Mark Brantley.
There are five districts across the island. In District 1, Charlestown, Spencer Brand of the CCM will face E. Robelto Hector of the NRP while in District 2 – St. Johns Brantley will face the NRP’s Hensley Daniel.
In District 3, Gingerland, Eric Evelyn of the CCM will face Cory Tyson of the NRP while in District 4 – St. James, Virgil Browne of the NRP will face Alexis Jeffers of the CCM.
In District 5 – St. Thomas – Joseph Parry of the NRP will face Keith Scarborough of the CCM.
According to the island’s Supervisor of Elections, Elvin Bailey, there are 11,303 registered voters, an approximate 12 percentage increase since the election of 2013.
Thirty-four polling stations will be opened across the island.
The election comes as the US-based political consultancy firm BuzzMaker. Which has been working with the opposition NRP on its campaign for the upcoming local elections, has signaled its intention to sue the government of St. Kitts and Nevis after the company’s president was detained for questioning by police last Monday.
BuzzMaker President, Matthew McMillan, according to WINN-FM, stopped at the RL Bradshaw International Airport before he could board a Miami-bound flight out of St. Kitts. According to police, he was taken into custody and questioned about a report of a drone being flown onto the property of Brantley in Montpelier.
The political consultant said it is concerning to the regional and international community when a government “makes a politically motivated detention without charge.” He said it is a sign that democracy is backsliding and sends a troubling message to international investors, tourists and governments that St. Kitts/Nevis is not a place that respects political speech and that punishes political opponents with improper detentions.
