St Kitts Nevis Labour Party celebrates 92 years of excellence

The St Kitts Nevis Labour Party marked 92 years of establishment on January 25, 2024. The auspicious occasion was celebrated with a church service at the Antioch Baptist Church in St Kitts.  The SKNLP, the oldest active political party in the English-speaking Caribbean, was founded on January 25, 1932, by the Workers Union.  The leaders of the party took to Facebook to congratulate the Federation and embrace the rich legacy they are holding.  Through a Facebook post, Prime Minister Terrance Drew said that since Labour's establishment the party gave ordinary people a voice and a seat at the table to contribute to the social, economic, and political development of St Kitts and Nevis. He added that what started as a thought by some of the bravest individuals, shaped what the party is as a free, proud, and resilient people today. According to PM Drew, the St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party always worked to drastically change St Kitts and Nevis and has been successful in doing so over the last 92 years for the better.  The Minister of Foreign Affairs who once served as the Prime Minister of the country, Denzil Douglas, also joined others in celebrating this occasion. He said, "The foundational strength and the longevity of the Labour Movement are of historical significance in charting the course of our national development." While highlighting the strong leadership of the SKNLP, he said that over the lifespan of the Party, there have been successful Leadership changes from Manchester to Sebastian, Bradshaw, Southwell, Moore, Douglas and most recently, Drew in November 2021. In addition to this, the Minister of Agriculture, Samal Duggins, also vowed to work hard on 92 years of the Labour Party. [caption id="attachment_67027" align="aligncenter" width="1599"] Current members of Labour Party before elections in 2021 (PC - Facebook)[/caption] He outlined, "The St Kitts Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), now celebrating a remarkable 92 years of history, stands as a testament to progress and unity in the nation." Minister Duggins said that as the oldest and longest-serving political party in St Kitts and Nevis, the SKNLP has been instrumental in shaping the country's course through significant political, social, and economic transformations.

Historic leadership of St Kitts Nevis Labour Party

• Thomas Manchester of Sandy Point served as the First President from 1932-1942
• Joseph Matthew Sebastian succeeded him, 1942-1944
• His Successor was our Second Chief Minister, First Premier, and First National Hero, Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, 1945-1978
• Sir C.A. Paul Southwell, First Chief Minister, second Premier and National Hero, served for one year, 1978-1979
• After Southwell's sudden death, Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore succeeded him from 1979-1989
• Then Dr Denzil Douglas became the Labour Party's Fifth National Political Leader, serving from May 1989 to November 2021
• Dr Terrance Drew now serves as our National Political Leader of the SKNLP from November 2021