BREAKING NEWS…Labour back in Power

THE ST KITT AND NEVIS LABOUR PARTY (SKNLP) RETURNED TO POWER after winning six of the eight parliamentary seats up for grabs following Friday’s national elections. The return to power followed seven years on the opposition benches, after the three-party coalition Team Unity won in 2015 and 2020 under Dr Timothy Douglas.

Sources close to the SKNLP revealed to www.aroundtheregions.com they anticipate the official declaration by midday today. They confirmed also the newly-elected government is expected to be sworn in later in the day.

“How the counting is going…we are hoping that Kenny Douglas in Constituency Five and Leon ‘Natta’ Nelson in Constituency Seven come out successful. (However) based on the figures we are seeing thus far we do not see them winning. But what is very important, is that both gentlemen certainly made their mark and we anticipate that while the PAM (Peoples Action Movement) and Labour candidates in those two constituencies survive, they are badly wounded.  We certainly can take those two seats in 2027,” one of the sources said.

Meanwhile, over in the island of Nevis, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) headed by Mark Brantley, swept all three Federal seats there. Brantley who has been winning his seat easily in past polls, nevertheless saw a massive dip in votes in this year’s polls.

This is sending a message, the informant explained.

“Yes, Brantley won his seat too, but he lost significant votes and this is certainly an indication that the voters are disappointed in the shame, embarrassment and unwarranted attention they (Team Unity) got both regionally and internationally (and that spilled over into) the country.”

“It’s a message that was clearly sent to Harris, Richards and Brantley! You have failed, and we have the writings on the wall. It’s a message that all politicians should learn, and that is, ‘do not take the voters for granted’ as they hold the most powerful thing which is their vote,” the source added.

The Harris’ Team Unity government comprised the People’s Labour Party (PLP), the Peoples Action Movement (PAM) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) of Nevis which first came to power in 2015, ending an unbroken 20-year reign of Dr. Denzil Douglas and the SKNLP.

Team Unity coalition also won the 2020 polls, but soon faced an avalanche of corruption claims. Internal party squabbles among coalition members brought to light accusations and counter-accusations of cronyism and selfishness among other charges of public malfeasance among Team Unity’s government ministers.

Mounting differences boiled over when six of the ministers publicly demanded Prime Minister, Dr Harris resign or face a no confidence motion (NCM).  A defiant Harris fired the six rebels and made moves to reshuffle his troubled, collapsing cabinet.

But time was not on his side.

Despite his initial reluctance, and efforts to manipulate the SKN constitution in his favour, he was forced to name an early election date, which was originally scheduled for 2025.

“It was foolhardy of PM Harris to not see his political career on the wall. The results are a true reflection of the will of the people…both Harris and Richards lost significant votes and they were barely able, to hold on to their seats because of loyalists.”

“The seats of Richards and Harris are certainly up for grabs at the next elections. The voters wanted Harris and his government out, and today, everyone is certainly happy that there is a new sheriff in town managing the affairs of this country,” the source said,

“I envision that the (newly-elected) Prime Minister, Dr. Drew will announce Monday as a holiday instead of today. People are happy, people are excited, people are free, people are relaxed to see that the pressures and burden that were placed on the Federation for the past seven years have been finally lifted,” the source said in relief.

Among the causalities from Team Unity are former Education Minister, Jonell Powell who lost to Labour Constituency Two candidate, Marsha Henderson; former Tourism Minister, Lindsay Grant, ousted in Constituency Four by Samal Duggins; former Health Minister, Akilah Nisbette- Bryon, losing to SKNLP’s Konris, Maynard, and SKNLP Leader, Dr. Terrance Drew ousting the incumbent in Constituency Eight.

As expected, former Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas, easily retained his Constituency Six seat he has been holding on to, unbroken, for more than three decades.

Dr Douglas first won the seat in 1989.