PM Dr Drew not prepared to die in office

UNLIKE MANY CARIBBEAN LEADERS, PRIME MINISTER DR TERRANCE MICHAEL DREW has drawn the line in the sand.

With indelible ink.

“As the Prime Minister… I can reassure that I will not serve more than two terms.”

The recently-elected leader of St Kitts and Nevis who observed just his second month since sweeping the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity from office, was adamant during his appearance on the Freedom FM Radio on the programme ‘Issues’ that he has no intentions being a perennial PM.

“Transition and succession are very critical and important. I know some people may get into office saying one thing and when they are there it’s another, but this office is not one that you will be here for life, but rather for a period as you serve the people,” Drew noted.

He continued, “As you get in you will start preparing to pass the baton as new leaders can be identified to take over”.

“I have said it and will say it again: I am here for only two terms. It is important that people know that those that go into office is for service, and their service will come to an end. The baton will have to be passed on,” he emphasised.

Third World leaders are reluctant, generally, to leave office.

Voluntarily.

Peacefully.

No matter how unpopular or superfluous they became, many Caribbean leaders just held tenaciously unto the reins of the ‘Ship of State’.

They know the ‘ship’ is sinking but will never put out an SOS. They prefer to perish in it.

Jamaica’s Donald Sangster in 1967 was said to be the first in the Region to die in office. Guyana’s LFS Burnham and Cheddi Jagan also died in office.

Tom Adams and David Thompson of Barbados; Basseterre’s own Robert Bradshaw and Paul Southwell suffered a similar faith as well as Port-of-Spain’s Eric Williams.

Dominica’s Rosie Douglas and Pierre Charles and British Virgin Island’s Chief Minister, Lavity Stoutt followed the similar depressing trend.

Haitian President, Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021.

Dr Drew doesn’t fancy a ‘Book of Condolences’ opened for him at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown while he still serves as Basseterre’s PM.

For him, succession plans are paramount. “There are lots of opportunities under this administration, and we want to free them up,” he assured.

“This is an administration that we are putting in place to last for a very long time even after I am gone, so I did not say something on the campaign trail and mean another,” said the Cuba and US-trained physician.

Consequently, there must be continuous training that allows for the system to identify new leaders for the office, the PM emphasised

For now, his eyes are firmly set on returning the 39-year-old Caribbean Federation to the Paradise as it was once esteemed to be.

During the broadcast PM Drew urged Kittitians and Nevisians to be patient and tolerant in the Labour administration’s ‘return-to-paradise’ quest,