Douglas: "NextGen SKN Dream Team, humble, honest and competent to serve with integrity"

Leader of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas said his party's NEXTGEN Team of Candidates for the upcoming general elections is committed to a bold agenda that envisions an inclusive society that puts every man, woman and child at the very center of the nation's development planning.

Addressing the 87th annual conference of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party at the St Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, Dr Douglas said "putting people first is our highest priority."

"Over the last four years we have undergone a period of deep reflection and introspection. We have canvassed the length and breadth of our country and engaged in meaningful consultations with our nationals at home and abroad in the Diaspora. We have listened attentively to your ideas; we have felt the passions of your dreams and deeply inspired by your collective aspirations, and therefore we have acted upon your new leadership expectations," Dr Douglas told over 400 delegates and invited guests which included the diplomatic corps and business leaders.

Dr Douglas who is also the Leader of the Opposition said it was clear that the people of St Kitts and Nevis will only vote for a government that serves all the people and not just a few families.

"You are saying that you will vote to protect our justice system from political interference. You will vote to stop the crippling victimization of our public servants and will vote to ensure that there is equity and fairness in hiring, training and promotion processes. In these upcoming elections, you told us that you would vote to make sure that our police force is depoliticized so that they can serve the public and our communities without high handedness and abusive force, thus protecting and respecting the right and liberties of every citizens of the new SKN. Our nationals are committed to stop the rampant nepotism, cronyism and corruption in government," said Dr Douglas.

The former prime minister told delegates that the private sector will vote for fair competition for their businesses to grow and expand in a thriving national economy.

"The private sector will no longer have to contend with companies of ministers which sell steel, lumber, cement and security services. Our people will vote to be treated with respect and dignity once again. They will vote to end corruption, maladministration and political discrimination in the dispensation of public social programmes such as the PAP and the roof repair programme," he said.

In his message to the delegates, Dr Douglas said the young people are saying that they will vote to ensure that "everyone must eat,” and wish to see vibrancy in the economy once again that will bring high paying jobs back to our country and have access to opportunities for educational and economic advancement.

"Our people will surely vote to return St. Kitts and Nevis to be first again," he declared, adding: "above all else, Kittitians and Nevisians are saying that they want a new generation of leaders who will provide bold, responsive and accountable leadership that understands, respects them above and beyond petty party politics."

"We, in the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party understand that good governance first requires good people who have been carefully selected and groomed to lead. This is why, on the last leg of my legacy, I am extremely proud to lead into office such a fine, mature and seasoned slate candidates who will work diligently to help take this country to the next level," said the four term prime minister who boldly stated that the candidates standing before them at conference 87 are their chosen leaders who are "upstanding, highly motivated, capable and committed group of young professionals with a proven record of service who have rolled up their sleeves and are ready to get to work for you! They are indeed a NextGen SKN Dream Team – as you have been calling them, and they have asked me to coach them and prepare them to become the best set of leaders that St Kitts and Nevis has ever seen."

He said the Party's slate for the next general elections are a unified team and a balanced team, mixing youth and experience and professionals of every orientation – law, medicine, engineering, education, entertainment, sports, business and accounting, "but most of all they are leaders who love and care for the people. They are humble, honest and competent to serve with integrity."