For a fourth consecutive term, St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party leader Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Federation. In a ceremony at Government House on Wednesday, Dr. Douglas took the Oath of Allegiance and later signed the Book of Appointment at Government Headquarters before several dignitaries including Justice Frances Belle, Governor General His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, members of the SKNLP and members of foreign diplomatic corps. Dr. Douglas swore to “honor, uphold and preserve the Constitution of St. Christopher and Nevis and the Law” and that he would “conscientiously, impartially and to the best of my ability, discharge my duties as Prime Minister, and do right to all manner of evil, without fear or favor, affection or ill will”.In accordance with the Instrument of Appointment, Sir Cuthbert read, “I do here By appoint you, the said Honorable Denzil Llewellyn Douglas to be the Prime Minister of St. Christopher ad Nevis with the powers, rights, privileges and advantages to the same, belonging with effect from Wednesday 27th January 2010.” Dr. Douglas was returned to power on January 25th when his party, the SKNLP, won the federal elections with a majority of 6 seats out of 11. On St. Kitts, opposition party People’s Action Movement won 2 seats, and on Nevis the Concerned Citizens’ Movement took 2 seats and the Nevis Reformation Party 1 seat. Following the announcement of the polling results early Tuesday morning, a large crowd gathered between Lower College Street Ghaut and Church Street for an impromptu celebration with the Labour candidates. In delivering his victory speech, Dr. Douglas told the fanatic crowd that it was his honor to be re-elected and thanked his teammates and supporters. “On behalf of the St Kitts Nevis Labour Party, it is indeed a special honor to accept your resounding mandate for an unprecedented fourth straight term in government. It is working! Our work together has created a better St Kitts and Nevis. It has been working since 1995 and it will continue to work indefinitely in the caring hands of Labour. Thank the members of our ALL 8 Team especially the first timers who have booked their places in the National Assembly. I thank our devoted team of foot soldiers all over the country, whose passion for the principles of Labour drove the compelling will to win for the public interest. “This is your victory… a victory that has once again given your Labour Party the proud distinction of the popular vote,” he said. The returning Prime Minister pledged his commitment to unifying the nation and extended an olive branch to his political opponents. “I extend a hand of friendship to the People’s Action Movement, its followers, and its leader Mr. Lindsay Grant. I am fully committed to using the invaluable leadership experience I have been fortunate to gain over the years, as a tool of healing and unification in a country that too often forgets we are one people and one nation. “But we will not heal and we will not unify if we don’t first commit ourselves to respecting the popular will and operating at all times with mutual respect, tolerance and empathy for each other. Healing and unification will also require re-examination of roles and honest conclusions about what we need to be doing differently for the public good, whether NGO Coalition, the media, the church, the business community, the political parties or party supporters- we are all in this together. “Three Labour candidates will resume parliamentary duties having been re-elected on Monday- Hon. Earl Asim Martin, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor, and Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris. Hon. Rupert Herbert retired from active politics at the conclusion of last term’s parliament. The Observer was reliably informed that newcomers to the political race Labour’s other winning candidates Glenn Phillip and Marcella Liburd; along with PAM’s Eugene Hamilton and Hon. Shawn Richards; CCM’s Hon. Vance Amory and Hon. Mark Brantley; and NRP’s Hon. Patrice Nesbitt will be sworn in as members of the federal parliament early next week.
