Hundreds of delegates, invited guests and supporters of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party gathered on Sunday May 17th 2015 for the 83rd Annual Conference which was held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort under the theme: “Labour’s Legacy, the Solidarity of the Majority.”
The Conference got off to a late start after 10 am on Sunday with the Public Session which featured the Invocation; Welcome Remarks by the Party Chairperson, the Hon. Marcella Liburd; Fraternal Greetings; Presentation of Awards to the 2015 Miss Labour contestants and the Honouring of the Mothers from the 8 constituencies in St. Kitts.
Guest Speaker, Ms. Penelope Beckles of the People’s National Movement (PNM) of Trinidad and Tobago who recently served as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, said that given the great traditions and accomplishments of the SKNLP, particularly in recent times, the SKNLP will be in great shape to resume government in 2020 ….or before.
The agenda for the Business Session featured the Annual Report from the National Executive of the Party; the Treasurer’s and Auditor’s Reports; Resolutions from the Executive and the several Branches of the Party, Young Labour and Labour Women.
The Election of a new Executive Committee for 2015-16 are as follows:
NATIONAL LEADER – The Rt Hon Dr Denzil Douglas
NATIONAL DEPUTY LEADER – Dr Earl Asim Martin
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON – Hon Marcella Liburd
NATIONAL DEPUTY CHAIR – Hon Nigel Carty
NATIONAL SECRETARY – Diana Williams-Humphrey
NATIONAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY – Karen Crossman
NATIONAL TREASURER – Patrice Warde
NOMINATED MEMBERS:
· Thamesha Fyfield
· Terry Williams
The Keynote address was delivered by Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas. Dr Douglas outlined the dynamic contribution of the SKNLP government over the past 20 years, which saw the federation achieving significant growth and development in tourism, financial services, education and other sectors.
“There are some of us delegates and guests who have journeyed from Nevis to participate in this conference in a spirit of oneness with the Labour Party, that defining feature of our Charter for Progress. As you sailed through the narrows to finally dock at Major’s Bay, you would have witnessed the buildings of the ultra luxury 5-star Park Hyatt Hotel, the first Park Hyatt in the Caribbean, emerging majestically from the sands of Banana Bay, which is a testament of the global success and leading role of our Citizenship by Investment Program. The CIP also provided the confidence to tackle our national debt, significantly reduced from nearly 200% of GDP to about 80%, and responsible for amassing a $700M surplus in our Treasury and creating a Foundation (SIDF) that is the blueprint for transitioning our sugar agriculture economy to one of services.
There are those of us who came here from the Capisterre region of our Federation. And on the way here, you would have seen Kittitian Hill in the beautiful foothills of Mt. Liamuiga. Today, next year, and twenty years after that, you will see Kittitian and Nevisian men and women continuing to do business there…….generating income for their families there……providing services and selling their goods there. And today, next year, and ten years from now, we will all know – in gratitude and celebration – that it was your votes…..and your support…and our combined energies – together – that made Kittitian Hill possible, for the lasting benefit and uplift of Kittitians and Nevisians of all political persuasions, and from every corner of our country, for generations to come.
Others of us came here by way of the F. T. Williams Highway. And as we did, we would have passed the YU-Lounge at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International airport– a facility much praised these days by many across the land for the competitive edge that facility gives to our Federation in the international travel market. The presence of that Lounge and the guests that it attracts – and will continue to attract –
automatically create extra demand for goods and services from the people of this country, Dear Comrades, and this demand will continue farther into the future than either you or I can ever see – for the benefit of our country’s men, our country’s Kittitian and Nevisian women, and the children for whom they are responsible. And so, today, next year, and the year after that, as the revenues continue flowing to our country’s families, as their sense of security is further strengthened, and as their stability is ever more assured we will, again, look on and rejoice in the gift that our work made possible for them – our brothers and sisters in this Federation,” said the re elected SKNLP Party Leader.
The public session was carried live on Freedom Fm.