| St. Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas' record of
achievement was a tough fight for any opponent. So says
British Virgin Islands Premier the Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal
in a message congratulating the St. Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister on securing a fourth term in office in
Monday's general elections.
In a congratulatory
letter dispatched to Dr. Douglas Tuesday, Premier
O'Neal told Prime Minister Douglas that his St. Kitts-Nevis
Labour Party's unprecedented win at the polls of an
historic fourth consecutive term is laudable given
the political winds of change in the Caribbean which
have adversely affected long serving leaders and parties.
He added, "As I closely followed the media coverage
leading up to Monday's general elections, I realised
that your record of achievement was a tough fight
for any opponent. Your determination and strong resolve
to continue to work on behalf of the people of St.
Kitts and Nevis were evident, and the voters have
reaffirmed their confidence in your leadership."
Premier O'Neal, who
visited St. Kitts recently to look at the National
Housing Corporation (NHC) home ownership programme
also noted that Dr. Douglas has demonstrated "strong
interest and concern" for the Organisation of
Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) and the Caribbean in general and he expressed
certainty that "this will continue during the
fourth consecutive term of your Government."
Extending best wishes
to the victorious Prime Minister for another successful
term, Premier O'Neal said gave his assurance of the
support of the BVI Government and hoped to offer his
personal congratulations to they next meet at an OECS
Heads of Government meeting.
The Governments of
the Virgin Islands and the St. Kitts and Nevis have
enjoyed years of cordial relations as members of regional
organisations including the OECS. Premier Ralph Telford
O'Neal, OBE was the first person to be appointed to
the newly titled office by the Governor on 22 August
2007 under the British Virgin Islands Constitution
adopted in 2007 after leading the Virgin Islands Party
to a landslide victory in the 2007 general election
two days earlier.
Ralph O'Neal also
served a previous term as Chief Minister of the British
Virgin Islands (as the office was referred to under
the old constitution) from 1995 (on the death of Lavity
Stoutt). He won the next election in 1999, but then
subsequently lost power to National Democratic Party
led by Orlando Smith in the 2003 general election,
although he remained the elected representative for
the 9th Electoral district (Virgin Gorda and Anegada),
a seat in the Legislative Council that he has held
continuously since 1971, and leader of the opposition.
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