BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 14 2015 – Former St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas says the election was stolen from his St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party.
“We shall continue a spirited campaign until this government is removed from office!” Dr. Douglas told supporters at an SKNLP rally in Basseterre on Thursday night.
The former Prime Minister reiterated the charge that the Unity coalition sabotaged flights of non-resident nationals, journeying to the Federation to vote in the February 16 general election.
“Every single flight that the Labour party had organised was sabotaged. From Jamaica it was sabotaged, from Miami, New York it was sabotaged, from Canada it was sabotaged. From the US Virgin Islands and the BVI there was sabotage; and that is why I say to you…and let them hear, those who are taping me, let them understand that Douglas say tonight, we ain’t taking it so! We ain’t taking it so at all, at all, at all!” he said, to loud cheers and applause from supporters.
Dr. Douglas had initially claimed that one of the SKNLP charter flights arrived too late for its passengers to cast their ballots, but on Thursday night he said the number was higher.
“…And they want to know why I am so quiet, eh? You think we finish yet? You think we finish? Eh? You think we finish? We ain’t finish yet! We just a start! We ain’t taking it so. Our flights were [sabotaged], over 600 people were disenfranchised. We did not interfere with any of the flights of PAM people coming in to vote, what the **** they interfering with our flights for? Me ain’t taking it so!” He shouted.
Reports are the SKNLP successfully landed 23 charters, a figure that Dr. Douglas did not dispute during a recent interview on Freedom radio’s Issues programme. The Unity coalition is reported to have brought in three or four charters.
Thursday night, Dr. Douglas asserted that his party would not accept the Unity victory.
“The majority party in this country is the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party and even though…three parties ganged up against us, we have not been defeated in terms of the popular support that we command in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
St. Kitts and Nevis has a first past the post, constituency-based electoral system, but Thursday night the former Prime Minister, who won his own seat by over 1700 votes, insisted that as the SKNLP had the majority of votes overall, it was the will of the people that it govern the country.
“Let them understand that Labour will not rest! Labour will continue to agitate and mobilise! Labour will not rest until this government is removed from office, because it does not deserve to be here to represent the people of St. Kitts and Nevis!”
The SKNLP/NRP coalition won 50 percent of the popular vote to the Unity coalition’s 49 percent, separated by 47 votes, according to final counts provided by the Elections Supervisor last week.
Thursday night, Dr. Douglas called on supporters to prepare to defend the party.
“You must be vigilant! You must be ready at any time my dear people, ’cause we ain’t going take it so! My dear people, every single flight was sabotaged…we have had our government stolen from us. We ain’t lose no election!” (WINN FM)
