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March 16, 2022

By Devonne Cornelius

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Callers to WINN FM’s popular “Voices” program shared their opinion on comments made at the National Convention of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) held Sunday, March 13 under the theme “Keeping the Promise”. 

“[Sunday] is a distraction from bread and butter issues being taken care of in the country and developing the country; making sure that we diversify. These are the major issues…making sure people have opportunities and jobs so that the government can pay less to people in these social programs,” said one caller on Wednesday’s (Mar. 16) edition of Voices. 

Another caller said: “The Prime Minister was at the convention. There are some people that like to talk about respect but only when it suits some of us. Was he disrespected at the convention? These are the questions we must ask and we have to be fair and honest.”

For months, political pundits have been suggesting that there is turbulence within the construct of the Team Unity Administration but comment’s coming out of Sunday’s convention have confirmed the claims.

“Who is up to suffer after this debacle we had on Sunday because whatever is going on with Unity, we heard that it was going good yet they still went there and started shooting words at each other. Who is up to suffer? The people of the country,” another caller shared. 

“I voted for a Unity government and I am sorry they had to end up like this. But when I listened to the convention, it reminded me of 2015. I thought they were talking to the opposition. You do not insult people like that. We the voters will make the change, not the politician. When I looked at the Prime Minister and how he sat and sucked up all of that, I said, he’s strong. Everybody is saying he could have walked out but don’t invite somebody to your house and then insult them. All the time rumors are going around about Unity mash-up but they confirmed it Sunday. I have been a supporter of PAM for 40 years and it was very disrespectful.” 

Deputy Prime Minister and Political Leader of PAM Hon. Shawn Richards while speaking at Sunday’s convention expressed his frustration that his colleague and Member of Parliament for Central Basseterre Hon. Jonel Powell has not been able to deliver adequate housing opportunities for the constituents of Central Basseterre. 

Richards hinted at the possible fallout of Team Unity and claimed that there is “selfishness” and “greed”.

Premier Mark Brantley, Sunday’s featured speaker, said he continues to lobby for Nevis’ fair share of the revenue from the Citizenship By Investment Programme but efforts remain unsuccessful. 

Both Richards and Brantley reiterated their commitment and that of their respective parties to Team Unity.