(ZIZ News) – Commissioner of Police Dr. Celvin Walwyn said there were minimal complaints of criminal activity during Monday’s General Election.
ZIZ News caught up with Dr. Walwyn at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on Wednesday afternoon where he was saying farewell to a friend.
He said, “Well I believe it went well. I have only had two reports of people that were asked to leave the line. Beyond that, in the whole Federation, that’s the only complaint I had.”
Commissioner Walwyn said his strategies continue to work as crime remains on a downward trend in the Federation.
“So far so good. We’ll see where we go from here but everything I have done over the last three years has worked. Like I always say, we have challenges but our crime is still down. We have one of the safest places in the Eastern Caribbean. Hopefully now, with all the silly season being over, people will start acting like adults and we’ll go forward with crime solving,” the Commissioner said.
]]>(ZIZ News) – Crime prevention was one of the major concerns of the Unity Team as its members campaigned throughout the country.
On the issue of security, Team Unity is quoted in its manifesto as saying “We cannot have a prosperous nation without it being a safe nation” adding that “the citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis are being held hostage by the criminal elements within our society.”
In response to the country’s security challenges, Team Unity promised to provide better equipment, facilities, appropriate transportation and facilitate training as well as provide appropriate incentives to the private sector for the acquisition of appropriate technology to facilitate a public-private sector partnership to fight crime and violence.
Team Unity also promised to “de-politicize the police force and ensure promotions and transfers are based on merit, and are transparent; institute special support and assistance for officers injured or killed in the line of duty; facilitate the establishment of neighbourhood watch and community policing; establish a youth facility for young offenders with minor offences, in Nevis; invest in Closed Circuit Television throughout the public areas of St. Kitts and work with the NIA to expand similar efforts in Nevis; and partner with churches and non-profit agencies to promote values education and essential life skills.”
The introduction of a gun court to deal with violent crimes, particularly murders, is also listed in the manifesto as a deterrent to crime, in addition to increasing the number of public prosecutors.
Team Unity has also promised to develop a zero tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour, loitering, public disorder, and violations of existing laws.
]]>(ZIZ News) – St. Kitts and Nevis now has a new Prime Minister.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the Hon. Dr. Timothy Sylvester Harris, in the presence of his Team Unity colleagues, supporters, government officials and media, took the Oath of Office, Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Secrecy.
Governor General, His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence also issued the necessary instruments of office to Prime Minister Harris, making complete the transition from the former administration to the new.
During Wednesday’s swearing in ceremony, the Federation’s new Attorney General was also appointed. The rumours which had been circulating that Vincent Fitzgerald Byron would be appointed to the position were confirmed.
For an unelected individual to receive ministerial appointments in St. Kitts and Nevis they must first be made a Senator. Just before receiving his appointment as Attorney General, this procedure was observed.
The oaths were administered by Her Ladyship, Justice Marlene Carter.
It is expected that additional ministerial appointments along with the necessary instruments of office will be issued shortly.
The appointment of those who will now serve as Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition will also occur on a date yet to be announced.
]]>ZIZ News — It was a long day and night for the staff of ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation as the company provided extensive coverage of St. Kitts and Nevis’ elections.
The coverage commenced early on Monday with island-wide audio updates from the news team. In the afternoon, the coverage stepped into high gear with live video updates via Skype. It culminated in the wee hours of Tuesday morning with “Election Watch” on ZIZ channel five.
]]>ZIZ News — Voters will soon know the official results of Monday’s elections as the Supervisor of Elections Wingrove George says he will reveal the results by midday today [Tuesday].
Earlier today, George provided an update on the elections. He was speaking with ZIZ Radio’s G-cue.
“I am able to report that yes, we have had some preliminary results but a lot of the results are being contested and challenged and so, it will not be fair to who is challenging the results for me to make a formal and official announcement on those results however, we are going through the process, the correct process that we have to go through,” he explained.
Supervisor George also called on members of the electorate to remain calm as he and his team seek to provide accurate election results.
“I will say to the people to be calm and understand that there are certain processes to go through. We always hear the saying ‘hurry dog eat raw corn’ and we don’t want to hurriedly make decisions and determinations that we can’t recall,” George said.
]]>ZIZ News — The country’s Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George has come under scrutiny by members of the electorate and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
Dr. Gonsalves issued a statement on Tuesday criticising George’s decision to halt the announcement of election results in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
“The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines congratulates the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis, including all political parties, on the conduct of peaceful elections yesterday, February 16th 2015. The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is disappointed that the Supervisor of Elections is yet to declare officially the results of the preliminary count and has not put appropriate measures in place to effect the final count in accordance with the law and established practice,” Gonsalves said.
Meantime, six non-governmental organisations in the Federation have collectively written a letter to Supervisor George where they express dissatisfaction in his decision.
The letter concludes with the groups admonishing George to announce the results with immediate effect. It reads, “We call on you to complete your constitutional duties immediately by announcing the election results” adding “you will be held legally and personally responsible for your failure to do so.”
The groups also wrote a follow-up letter to Hesketh Benjamin in his capacity as Chairman of the electoral commission. A portion of that letter reads, “Your and his failure could have very negative implications for the rule of law and the reputation of our country.”
]]>Following the commitment made by Team Unity to celebrate the people’s historic victory at the polls on Monday, 16th February 2015, Team Unity Leader and Prime Minister-Elect, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, has advised the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Edmund W. Lawrence, to declare Wednesday, 18th February 2015, a public holiday in the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, in commemoration of the people’s victory.
]]>Starting at the crack of dawn, hundreds of Team Unity supporters began gathering on Church Street, on Tuesday morning, in celebration.
From about 6am, persons dressed in white, yellow and orange gathered at the intersection of Church and Central Streets, near Government Headquarters blowing horns, whistles, and waving placards.
Although the Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George suspended the announcement of results of Monday’s Federal Elections, the Team Unity supporters were confident that their candidates had taken the majority of the seats.
]]>Outgoing Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas has congratulated Team Unity on winning the 2015 Federal Elections.
Dr. Douglas’ announcement came following the official announcement of the election results on Tuesday afternoon.
“To the newly elected members of the People’s Action Movement, the Concerned Citizens Movement and the People’s Labour Party, I extend sincere congratulations in response to your success at the polls. To the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, I extend, on behalf of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, sincere and enduring gratitude for the sacred honour that you bestowed on our Party, by permitting us to manage the affairs of our blessed Nation for the past 20 years. To the friends and members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party – you have my undying gratitude,” he said.
He also thanked the residents of St. Kitts and Nevis for giving his party, the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party the opportunity to serve.
“This has been a long and hard election campaign and what the impassioned, but peaceful – always peaceful – public meetings, rallies, and jousting said to the world, time and again, was that ours is a vibrant and mature democracy, and that Kittitians and Nevisians, a politically mature and responsible people. I shall forever cherish having been given the opportunity to lead the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. And for this most precious of opportunities, I once again thank you,” he said.
]]>ZIZ News — Following a day of voting in the 2015 General Elections, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have elected a new government.
According to final results, the Team Unity coalition has been named the victor, winning 7 of the 11 seats.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party/Nevis Reformation Party won four seats: three for the SKNLP and one for the NRP.
After suspending the announcement of results early Tuesday morning, Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George announced the complete figures in a recorded address on Tuesday afternoon.
Here is a summary of the winners:
Ian Patches Liburd won Constituency Number 1 for the People’s Action Movement.
Marcella Liburd has retained Constituency Number 2 for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.
Konris Maynard took the Constituency Number 3 seat for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.
Constituency Number 4 was won by Lindsay Grant of the People’s Action Movement.
Shawn Richards has taken Constituency Number 5 once again for the People’s Action Movement.
Dr. Denzil Douglas has retained Constituency Number 6 for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.
Dr. Timothy Harris has retained Constituency Number 7 for the newly formed People’s Labour Party.
Constituency Number 8 is retained by the People’s Action Movement’s Eugene Hamilton.
In Nevis, Constituency Number 9 was won by Mark Brantley of the Concerned Citizen’s Movement, Constituency Number 10 by Vance Amory, also of CCM, and Constituency Number 11 was won by the Nevis Reformation Party’s Patrice Nisbett.
]]>ZIZ News — From as early as 6:30am, voters gathered outside polling stations, ready to cast their ballots and choose who will govern St. Kitts – Nevis over the next five years.
Young and old persons from every sector of society, eagerly lined up to get in and place their “X” on the ballot.
At each polling station, small booths were set up, offering assistance to voters who might have been unsure of where to vote.
Various observer groups are also in St. Kitts overseeing the electoral process.
Outside the Basseterre Police Station in Constituency#1, ZIZ News caught up with Ambassador Frank Almaguer, the Head of the OAS Electoral Mission.
“The OAS is invited by member states of the western hemisphere to observe elections. Our job is to understand the process leading up to elections, to observe election day proceeding, and then at the end of the process, to review our observations and prepare a report for the Secretary General of the OAS and for the member states and this report is an opportunity for the member states to understand how the process went in the country and also the lessons learned so that not just St. Kitts and Nevis, but other countries can take advantage of the experience so that they too can improve their voting processes,” he explained.
At the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Constituency #2, there was a strong turnout of voters as the line spilled into the street.
At polling stations in Constituency #3, it was more of the same: long lines and early voter turnout. Some persons arrived almost two hours before the polls opened.
A similar situation was seen in Constituency eight as officials from both parties were reporting smooth sailing as voters came out in their numbers.
In all constituencies visited, officials reported no conflict and a well-mannered electorate as they got down to the business of choosing the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for the next five years.
]]>ZIZ News — Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis, who reside in other parts of the world, have already begun to arrive in the Federation in time for Monday’s elections.
ZIZ News was on hand at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on Friday and Saturday to witness some of the arrivals. Representatives of the various political parties were on hand to welcome the returning nationals to present them with party paraphernalia.
Hundreds of registered voters are expected to return home by Sunday evening to show support to the candidates and parties of their choice.
While it is unclear how many voters reside in other parts of the world, their impact on the general elections cannot be doubted.
]]>(ZIZ News) — Like the St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival, Culturama and the annual St. Kitts Music Festival, elections in the country means more money in the pockets of local business owners.
With just one day remaining before voters elect a new federal government to serve for the next five years, rental companies are all claiming to be completely booked out.
A short drive throughout the streets of Basseterre or Charlestown would see several vehicles owned by major rental companies such as TDC, Avis and Hertz or smaller companies like Noel’s Courtesy Garage, Bullseye Auto, and Courtesy Car Rental lining the streets.
When asked when rental cars will become available, many sales clerks respond “not before Tuesday”.
Local hotels and guest houses are also benefitting from the election season as some returning nationals, who would rather not stay with families, are temporarily settled in the quaint spots.
Many of the returning nationals will return to their places of residence on Tuesday, following the announcement of the country’s next government.
]]>ZIZ News — Essential services personnel in St. Kitts and Nevis got the opportunity to cast their votes on Saturday: two days ahead of the Federal Elections date.
That was made possible following the passage of the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
Last October, the Bill was moved through parliament by Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.
Essential services personnel include doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMT), Fire and Rescue Services officers and police personnel.
The Bill also amended the Elections Act to provide for the appointment of an additional polling clerk at each polling station.
]]>Join ZIZ radio 96.1FM, Channel 5 and www.zizonline.com for COMPREHENSIVE ELECTION DAY COVERAGE
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