By Steve Thomas
Observer Nevis Editor
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – A series of rallies and meetings over the Labour Day weekend has a top official of the People’s Action Movement convinced that Federation voters are ready for something different.
“I think the vibe is very positive,” PAM public relations officer Wallis Wilkin said. “The feedback is that the country needs a change. If you walk around St. Kitts, you feel the vibe, that people and the country are ready for change.”
Recent governments have done “things in the so-called traditional style,” Mr. Wilkin said. “It’s outdated and obsolete. We want to do things in a more efficient way, up-to-date (methods). We want to cut out the petty politics that has plagued the country for so many years.”
Under the Constitution, elections must be held by Oct. 2009. Many political observers believe the ruling Labour Party will call elections before the deadline, perhaps by the end of 2008.
Events got under way with a May 1 rally in Halfway Tree, where PAM political leader Mr. Lindsay Graham set the tone for the following days in a speech to supporters.
“Let them ring the bell now, the people have stepped in to put the country back on the right direction,” Mr. Graham said. According to a PAM press release, “Mr. Grant spoke with sadness about the lack of adequate and affordable healthcare in St. Kitts and Nevis. Mr. Grant declared that in addition to a priority for much needed Hospital improvements, a new PAM Government would ensure that the poor and others unable to afford could access overseas medical treatment if it was not available in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
He also called for better wages in the Federation. On Friday, a public meeting was held in Dieppe Bay.
“It went very well,” Mr. Wilkin said. “It’s been a while since we had a meeting in Dieppe Bay. I’m told we hadn’t had one there in five years. It was more of a rally than a meeting. It was more of a time for the leadership to interact with everyone. The response was very, very good. We’re planning to go back there soon.”
On Sunday, a meeting at George Street also went well, Mr. Wilkin said, with people reacting positively to PAM’s message.
“The election will be centered around change,” he said. “What we’re saying is the country is ready to see new leadership, new and improved ways to run the country, new and improved ways of controlling the price of food” and better ways to manage, education, tourism and industry.
On Monday, at the party headquarters, PAM served over 600 breakfasts starting at 7:30 a.m. This was followed by a lunch, teas, music and in the evening, a DJ for dancing.
PAM plans to hold a meeting every week until the elections, Mr. Wilkin said.
“We’re ready to hit the road again,” he said.
