BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – With the assistance of 150 young people and before a massive crowd of nearly 15,000, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas Thursday announced that the people of the twin-island Federation will go to the polls later this month.
Nomination Day is Friday, January 15 and Election Day is Monday, January 25.
“It is therefore with a sense of excitement and expectation that I advise you that His Excellency the Governor General, Dr. Dir Cuthbert Sebastian, has today, issued the required Writs providing for Nomination of Candidates and the date of General Elections. I therefore invite 150 young people to join me on stage and to ring the bell…
The bells are to signal to you to find your class. These bells are to proclaim that, in accordance with the Writs issued by His Excellency the Governor General, Nomination Day shall be on Friday 15th January 2010 and General Elections shall be held on Monday 25th January, 2010,” said Prime Minister Douglas to the crowd which went into a carnival like atmosphere.
“These are bells of joy because at last our people have been released from the abundance of injunctions and can now express their strong confidence in Labour to protect our achievements and to secure the continued progress of our Nation for the benefit of our young people and future generations. these are bells of joy,” said Dr. Douglas.
He urged every citizen to demonstrate tolerance and respect for each other during the election campaign. “We pray it would be peaceful and harmonious,” said Dr. Douglas, who is seeking a fourth term as Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
He told the nation in his address which was broadcast live on several radio stations and the internet, that the vision of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is a vision of change.
“We believe that Change is a process and that process began in 1995 when we assumed office. It is a process that is still ongoing. It is a process that over the next five years will continue to transform our Federation into a new service-oriented economy with an abundance of opportunities for our people to create even more wealth,” the St. Kitts and Nevis Leader said.
Prime Minister Douglas’ Labour Party controls seven of the 8 seats in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly. The People’s Action Movement (PAM) of Lindsay Grant has the other seat on St. Kitts. On Nevis, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) controls two of the three seats. The Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) has the other seat.
