BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 7, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — In different statements made on Tuesday evening March 6, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Shawn Richards agreed that strengthening of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) would be a boon for the Team Unity Movement member parties.

The two leaders were speaking at the third in a series of town hall meetings dubbed ‘The People’s Forum – Let Your Voice be Heard’ organised by the Team Unity Administration as part of its third anniversary celebration activities. The town hall meeting was held at the Sandy Point Community Centre and moderated by Attorney General the Hon Vincent Byron.  

Three independent political parties, the People’s Action Movement (PAM) led by the Hon Shawn Richards, the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) led by Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and the Nevis-based Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) then led by the Hon Vance Amory turned a historical milestone when they came together as the Team Unity Movement with Dr Harris as its leader, to contest the 2015 general elections.

Prime Minister Harris told the town-hall meeting on Tuesday evening in Sandy Point that leaders of those parties made sacrifices in terms their of their own individual ambitions when they allowed for him to be the leader of the new movement. He noted that the leaders also agreed to introduce term limits.

He dismissed the talk of competition among the parties in the movement when he said: “When we strengthen the PLP in Sandy Point, it is the Hon Shawn Richards who will be contesting in Number Five. He will be the beneficiary of Baba’s (Mr Glenville Mills the PLP Branch Chairperson for Constituency Number Five) vote, of (Ms) Marsha’s (Lewis, the Deputy Branch Chairperson) vote.”

The PLP National Political Leader further told the participants that when the PLP is strengthened in Constituency Number Four, it is the Hon Lindsay Grant of the People’s Action Movement who will be running in Number Four, and it is he who will benefit.

He commented that it was complete nonsense to speak of any competition among the Team Unity Movement members parties adding that the “chain is as strong as its weakest link and we will make PLP a strong link because we can do that.”

“When we incentivise our people in Constituency Number One, it is because we know better,” said Dr Harris. He added that Number One which is held by the Hon Ian Patches Liburd of PAM is still a challenging seat, and that he (PLP Leader) will be happy to bring more of the Labour supporters over observing that they are doing that to defend the Team Unity Family. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Area Parliamentary Representative for St Christopher Five (Sandy Point) the Hon Shawn Richards, had expressed similar sentiments when he addressed the town hall meeting, which was also addressed by Minister of State for Health the Hon Wendy Phipps who hails from Sandy Point.

“I say to you the people of Sandy Point that things are happening here in Sandy Point,” said the Hon Richards. “Good things are happening here in Sandy Point. As I look around right here I see a number of Sandy Pointers who can stand up and testify about the good things happening here in Sandy Point. 

Hon Richards, who is the Political Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) was cheered widely when he said: “Mercia (Duncan, who is a PAM supporter) can stand up and testify to that. Baba (Mr Glenville Mills the PLP Branch Chairperson for Constituency Number Five) can stand up and testify to that.” 

“Marsha and Janice can stand up and testify to that,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. Ms Marsha Lewis who is the PLP Branch Number Five Vice Chairperson and Mrs Janice Lewis-Duncan who is the PLP Branch Number Five Women’s Arm Representative are twins. “A support for PLP here in Sandy Point is a vote for PAM in Sandy Point.”   

Earlier on in his address, Dr Harris had said: “From the bottom of my heart I say a heartfelt thank you to the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Peoples Action Movement Party who has given loyal and strong support to Unity Movement. I will do all that I can to ensure his successful re-election as the undisputed champion of the people of St. Christopher Five.”

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Harris was widely cheered when he added: “I will do all that I can to ensure that when the time comes at the end of my tenure, ten years as the prime minister, the baton passes to the Hon Shawn K. Richards.”

Among the PLP officials who accompanied the Prime Minister were the Deputy Political Leader, the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, PLP National Secretary Ms Myrtilla Williams, Women’s Arm Representative Mrs Sonia Henry, the two Youth Arm Representatives, Mr Manasses Huggins, and Damian Weekes, and PLP Founder Member Mr William Phillip.

PLP Representatives from the various branches were present, with the home branch represented by Glenville Mills (Chairperson), Ms Marsha Lewis (Deputy Chairperson), Ms Amoy Heyliger (Secretary), Mr Lindsey Caesar (Treasurer), Mrs Janice Lewis-Duncan (Women’s Representative) and party supporters Mrs Patricia Mills and Mr Dwight Burke. 

The next town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday March 13 at the St. Johnston’s Community Centre in West Basseterre, St. Christopher Three.

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