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“The treatment of Nevisians and Anguillians as second class citizens prior to 1980 is one of the issues that the People’s Action Movement  is proud to have fought against, whether in our rejection of the provision of local government for Nevis and Anguilla controlled from Church Street, a local council which was responsible for minor roads, …dirt roads, and the issuance of such things as dog licences, and with no budgetary controls, or of the neglect, the lack of concern for the people of Nevis and Anguilla.”

This was the sentiment expressed by People’s Action Movement Leader the Hon. Shawn K. Richards during his epic address at the much talked about and historic 49^th Annual Convention of St.Kitts’ main Opposition Party PAM.

The Charismatic two term Parliamentarian spoke of his own pride and that of  his party in having championed the cause of Nevisians and Anguillans who were before 1980 , treated like second class citizens.  He stated the fact that it was a People’s Action Movement/NRP Administration  under the Leadership of Rt Hon. Dr. Sir Kennedy Simmonds and Nevis Premier Sir Dr. Simeon Daniel that Nevis  were able to run their own affairs in a Nevis Island Assembly. Something that the Anguillan’s fought for and was at the heart of the rebellion that led to the break up of the state of St.Kitts-Nevis and Anguilla.

“This feature of the 1967 Statehood Constitution, the local government provision, was at the heart of the Anguillian rebellion and the break up of the State. This feature relating to governance is also central to an understanding of the desire of Nevisians for self determination and why our  Party sponsored, along with the late Dr. Simeon Daniel and the late Ivor Stevens and other Nevisian leaders at the time, the creation of the Nevis Island Assembly and the Nevis Island Administration to give the people of Nevis a meaningful control over their affairs. While this provision of our 1983 Independence Constitution has often been touted as unfair and unequal by the Labour Party, a provision, clause 113, which evokes calls for Constitutional reform, it has stood the test of time we have existed as an independent nation,” said the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Alliance Team UNITY.

PAM Leader Hon. Shawn Richards and Nevis Deputy Premier Mark Brantley exchange greetings and convention

 

Richards went on to state the pride him and his party holds for the cordial sisterly, brotherly relationship between the People;’s Action Movement and the people of Nevis.

“We in PAM are proud of our relationship with, and our strong ties to, our brothers and sisters in Nevis,” stated Richards.

Section of Audience and the Opposition Party Convention