Concerned Citizens’ Movement candidate in the general elections for Constituency 9 Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley has said his party is open to forming an alliance with a St. Kitts political party to form the next federal government. The Opposition Leader spoke exclusively with The Observer revealing that the CCM has not held talks with any of the St. Kitts political parties regarding forming a coalition government, but said the possibility exists. “CCM is entirely open to discussions and our view is that we must negotiate and if it comes to that we would make a decision that’s in the best interest of the people of this country,” he said. There are three electoral districts on Nevis as it relates to the federal government, constituencies 9, 10 and 11. CCM won 2 seats in the 2004 general elections against the now incumbent Nevis Island Assembly’s Nevis Reformation Party. Brantley said his party is contesting with the view to win all three seats on Monday. “Our position right now is that we are going out to win all three seats in Nevis and then we will see what happens after that. We have had general discussions with representatives from both parties; Dr. Douglas and his team from Labour and Lindsay Grant and his people from PAM. We have not had any discussion with any party in St. Kitts or Nevis about any coalition,” he informed. “No possibility of coalition or terms thereof has emerged.” Brantley addressed rumors alleging he wants the title of prime minister should CCM collate with either PAM or Labour depending on the outcome of the January 25th election. “I don’t know where those rumors came from or how they got started because nobody has bothered to ask Mark Brantley,” he said. The Observer posed the burning question to the politician, asking if he would accept the role of prime minister in the event of a CCM coalition government. “The issue of prime-ministership of a country, the constitution clearly provides that is the person who has the majority of the support and that individual will emerge as the prime minister. Whoever that is I would hope that the people of the nation rally around that individual and government and let us get some unity in our country and restore a sense of purpose.” He explained that an individual holding a seat in the NIA could also serve as a minister in the federal government as was the case when Dr. Simeon Daniel served simultaneously as Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance in the federal government. “It is possible for it to happen, although one has to consider if it is the best arrangement,” Brantley explained.
