News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Jan. 28, 2015: Voters in the Federation of St. Kitts/Nevis will go to the polls on February 16, 2015 – President’s Day in the U.S.
The islands’ Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas of the St. Kitts Labor Party, announced the election in a government statement last evening. His declaration came hours after a judge discharged a Court injunction that was granted to opposition MPs on Jan. 16th against a proclamation of new boundary changes that was rushed through parliament and passed into law also on January 16th.
In delivering the judgment Tuesday, Justice Marlene Carter said the Governor General’s proclamation on the changes, does not rely on the Gazette announcing the changes being made available to the public. She also indicated that the Court will accept the evidence from the attorney general that the injunction was granted well after the proclamation was signed.
PM Douglas is seeking a fifth term. He is being challenged by a historic coalition of three major parties, under the banner of Team Unity. The coalition, led by the country’s former finance minister and Laborite, Timothy Harris as well as the country’s former deputy prime minister under the Douglas government, Sam Condor under the Peoples Labor Party (PLP); The People’s Action Movement, (PAM) led by Li ndsay Grant and the ruling Nevis party, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), led by Vance Amory, premier of the island of Nevis.
Team Unity cites corruption, self-interest, a lack of integrity and the sale of the country’s passports as well as a change from 20 years of the same rule, as reasons why they have made history and come together and are rallying hard for voters to make a change.
The incumbent for his part insists the country has shown economic growth under his leadership and he needs a fifth term to ensure the growth continues. He cites “clear advances in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction, energy and other sectors” as evidence of the progress under his tenure.
Nomination Day in the Federation will be Friday February 6th. Voters in the Diaspora, especially those in the U.S. are expected to be flown into the island on free tickets to vote. There are an estimated 32,000 voters across the islands. Young voters and women are seen as the critical target demographic in the upcoming elections.
