Photo Caption: show Dr. Douglas taking the Oath and signing at the opening of the new session of the House of Assembly in 1989.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 23rd 2017 – Leader of the Opposition the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas on Tuesday celebrated 28 years as Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 6 (Newton Ground to Harris’).
Dr. Douglas first served in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly as Leader of the Opposition from March 1989 to July 2nd 1995; as Prime Minister from July 3rd 1995 to February 15th and is now on his second stint as Leader of the Opposition from February 16th 2015.
During Tuesday’s edition of “Ask the Leader,” Erasmus Williams, who served as Dr. Douglas’ Press Secretary during his tenure as Prime Minister, reminded the distinguished parliamentarian of the total neglect of the constituency during the Kennedy Simmonds PAM Administration between 1980 and 1995 and the significant achievements to the constituency when he became Prime Minister in 1995.
Mr. Williams pointed to the significant improvement in the quality of life, jobs, educational and other opportunities of residents but also in infrastructure and provision of services.
He listed among them the achievements in his “commitment to serve” are the construction of housing throughout the constituency, expansion of health centers and improved primary health care services in St. Paul’s, Dieppe Bay and Saddlers; sports complexes and facilities in Newton Ground, St. Paul’s, Dieppe Bay, Parsons, and Saddlers; a new Post Office and Police Station in Dieppe Bay; new day care centers and or pre-schools in Newton Ground, St. Paul’s, Dieppe Bay and Saddlers; new community centers in Newton Ground, St. Paul’s and Saddlers; the Saddlers Secondary School, the Robert Bradshaw National Heroes Park; the St. Kitts Eco-Tourism Park and the Kittitian Hill Resort at Belmont.
Mr. Williams also praised the former prime minister for the significant increase in the number of students from the constituency entering high schools in the areas and his advice to parents to ensure that their children pursue tertiary-level education at local, regional and international universities. Scores have returned and serve as lawyers, educators, civil engineers, accountants, physicians, nurses, psychologists, teachers surgeons and dentists.
“You (a government) cannot neglect people like that for 15 years. That was wrong and it had to be righted and the opportunities came and we set out to do that, but at the same time not neglecting other constituencies, There is still a lot than can be done,” said Dr. Douglas.
He challenged the young people that they may grow up in a “hostile environment as a result of the change of government as the constituents are targeted.”
“You must be focussed, even though the support that they and others throughout St. Kitts and Nevis, would have received for their children in the formal education at the tertiary level has been withdrawn, I encourage the parents not to take their children out,” advised dr. Douglas.
He urged them to use the availability of the internet if they are unable to go overseas to attend college or university “to get online and pursue your own academic careers.”
A week of activities to mark the occasion will be held next month.
Dr. Douglas is a seven-term parliamentary representative having won with a landslide in 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2010 and 2015.
