By: Staff Writer
August 9, 2022
The St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party recorded a landslide victory in the general elections held on August 5, 2022. They swept clear victory by winning 6 out of 8 constituencies of St Kitts. They paved the path of the parliament with a full majority. Dr Terrance Drew, who became the prime minister of the Federation for the first time elected from constituency number 8.
Outgoing Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris, first became prime minister in February 2015 and served a second term after Team Unity, a three-party alliance, won nine of Parliament’s 11 seats in the 2020 elections. But Harris lost a no confidence motion filed by his coalition partners earlier this year, prompting the twin-island nation to hold general elections Friday.
Six political parties fielded a total of more than 30 candidates vying for 11 of Parliament’s 15 seats. Drew’s party captured six seats, while Harris’s won one. The island’s governor general will appoint people to the remaining four seats after the election.
The SKNLP promised improved health care, affordable housing and more access to education. They outlined their seven pillars and the ways the SKNLP will improve the lives of the people in St. Kitts and Nevis and the country as a whole.
They added, “For too long, we have all suffered as a people and as a country! It is time for our lives to be improved. It is time for #BETTER. On August 5th, vote for Better. Vote for the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.”
Among the victorious SKNLP candidates is former Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas, who before the 2015 general election, had been among the longest-serving leaders in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
During the campaign Douglas dismissed suggestions of a rift within the hierarchy of the then opposition SKNLP, insisting that he is supportive 100 per cent of Drew, who took over the leadership of the party last year when Douglas stepped down after 33 years and 20 years as prime minister.
How Dr Drew and Dr Douglas will work together remains to be seen and if Dr Drew shows any deficiencies, most likely Douglas will step in and will take the reigns of the country again.
As for Dr Harris and his ousted Team Unity, one third of which was his party the People’s Labour Party: A house divided cannot stand. It was only a matter of the election date for the people of St Kitts and Nevis to show him the door after members of his team unity openly questioned his leadership and bolted from his ranks.
Shawn K Richards- leader of the People’s Action Movement, one third of the Team Unity, secured a clean victory in constituency 5 in the general elections of St Kitts and Nevis held on August 5, 2022.
As per the statics, a PAM candidate becomes a parliamentary representative once again with 1025 votes. A total of 2093 were valid votes.
Premier Mark Brantley of the island of Nevis and leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement, secured his seat as well as his party took all three seats on the island of Nevis.