A day after Joseph Parry and his Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) were returned to office following Monday’s elections on Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas pledged the federal government will continue to work closely with the sister isle’s new administration, a government statement here said, even as protests over Monday’s poll continued.
“You have elected a government to look after the interest of the people of Nevis. My duty as the leader of the Federal Government is to lend support whenever that support is required,” said Douglas in brief remarks as Premier Parry and his cabinet were sworn in at a public ceremony at Elquemedo Willett Park in the Nevisian capital, Charlestown.
“Today, I yet affirm that you can depend upon me and the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government to do at all times what is right for the people of Nevis and what is right for the people of St. Kitts as well,” he added.
He said both the federal government in Basseterre and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in Charlestown must continue to move forward.
“My dear people, let us move forward together. Let us move forward committed to doing what is right and what is best for the Island of Nevis and thankful to God for the calm and stability with which you asserted your rights yesterday and re-elected a new government in fair elections,” the prime minster said.
In a virtual replay of the 2006 poll, the incumbent NRP won three seats in the eight member island assembly, giving Parry’s a second term in office in the Nevis Island Administration which governs the 93-square kilometre island of 12,000 people in the two-island federation with St Kitts.
The NRP defeated the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) led by former premier Vance Amory which governed the island for three straight terms before the July 2007 elections. The NRP remains a one-seat minority opposition party in the federal parliament in Basseterre with the CCM holding two seats.
While the government statement said Douglas was given a “tumultuous welcome” by hundreds at the ceremony, police were blocking CCM supporters from marching to Willett Park as they protested the outcome of the poll which was marred by allegations of vote rigging, lawsuits and allegations that several people had been removed from the voters list.
The CCM has rejected the election result.
