Photo: Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas
Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 1 2017 – Leader of the Opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said 2017 was not without its serious challenges for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis who experienced loss of jobs, the financial constraints on families and the bleak economic prospects looming ahead.
In his New Year Message, the former prime minister directed his message to the youth, parents and the Nation.
“Last year, we saw a great many injustices committed against ordinary citizens. People’s livelihoods were wilfully and unlawfully placed under direct threat in many instances. We saw our social landscape change for the worse as crime increased exponentially and total lawlessness threatened to make St. Kitts and Nevis its home. Many of us were victims of never before seen abuses of power at the hands of those charged with the leadership of this great country,” said Dr. Douglas in his New Year’s message.
The former prime minister referred to the recent arrest of the former Supervisor of Elections on frivolous charges of failure to deliver the 2015 elections results in a timely manner as an abuse of power by the Timothy Harris-led CCM/PLP/PAM administration.
“Contradicting this nonsensical charge is the fact that the elections report was presented to His Excellency the Governor-General who within two days after the elections, had appointed a new Prime Minister. This type of abuse is typical of dictatorial fascist regimes of the past,” Dr. Douglas told the Nation.
“The observation of this and ample other abuses of power caused many of our people to succumb to stress, strain and illness, the vagaries of life on earth during the year, passing eternally into The Great Beyond,” he said.
Dr. Douglas has a word of encouragement to the Youth, especially those currently engaged in the pursuit of higher education.
“Yours is a path that though often littered with difficulties, leads to the sweet fruits of success in the end. To those who have opted to enter the world of work, I urge you to pursue a level of professionalism that is second to none. Create and maintain a solid reputation for yourself in the working world for at the end of the day, a good name travels much further than riches,” he said.
He extended words of congratulations, pride and solidarity to mothers and fathers who diligently work to provide for their families.
“In spite of the many difficulties you face – financial and otherwise, your resilience and faith are unwavering. You are the original building blocks of our societies as your shining examples of love, care and attention serve to influence our young, fashioning them into socially responsible and civil men and women,” said the former prime minister.
Dr. Douglas, the National Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) noted that throughout 2017, the 86-year-old organisation “was fervently engaged in a process of candidate selection as well as succession planning. “
“All this was undertaken with the aim of bringing to the fore fresh young capable minds eager to serve and able to perpetuate the Party’s philosophy of service to humanity, fairness, peace, progress and prosperity. They must never fail to appreciate that the fruits of this land and the prosperity that we look for with hope and high expectations must be fairly distributed for all and not just for a selected few, their families, and the families of those in power. This is a principle that they must imbue as they prepare themselves for greater service to our country,” Dr. Douglas said.
He added that as the SKNLP looks forward to 2018 and beyond, “let us commit ourselves to be disciplined and courageous so that with the help of God, we might lift each other up, and in so doing, lift our nation to heights we have known before.”
“Let us in particular in the upcoming year look out for our senior citizens, those who laid the foundation of our nation. Let us take care of those who raised us and our parents so that we could be productive citizens in this land that they have bequeathed to us. Let us remember to be kind to those without sight or hearing or soundness of mind. Let us remember to protect and lend support to those who fall victim of sexual abuse, whether in our communities, in corporate or government offices and those who fall victim criminal activities,” he said.
“Let us look out for those in need. This is what good citizenship is all about for it is in this way that we will build a better St. Kitts and Nevis not only for this generation, but also for generations to come,” said Dr. Douglas.
