2 Term Parliamentarian Hon Shawn Richards Nominated for Leadership of People’s Action Movement

Hon Richards with Hon. Patrice Nisbett – Attorney General of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Curtis Martin – Speaker of the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre, St. Kitts (August 23rd 2012):- Deputy Political Leader and 2 term parliamentarian the Hon. Shawn K Richards was yesterday officially nominated as a candidate for the position of Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis main opposition party the People’s Action Movement.

Buoyed by overwhelming support from party loyalists and political observers the Hon. Richards was officially duly nominated by submitting all of the required nominating documents, and meeting the August 23 deadline as set out in the party’s nomination rules and regulations. The nomination took place at the Party Secretariat on Church Street.

In a brief statement after the nomination the young vibrant parliamentarian Hon. Richards said “I have just taken the first step on my journey to the pinnacle of leadership of this great party and this country. It is with much humility that I accept this nomination and I must express my appreciation for your overwhelming support. Since 2004 when I was elected as the youngest member of parliament in the national assembly and the lone Opposition voice I fought long, hard and tirelessly to air the concerns of an oppressed people who before then felt like they had no voice. I became that voice, albeit a lone one and I have stood tooth and nail with the entire government and elected and unelected parliamentarians. I have used my presence in parliament and as an elected parliamentarian to highlight the many ills of this country which have come about as a result of the gross mismanagement by this Denzil Douglas led administration.”

Hon Richards with Hon. Baldwin Spencer – Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

The 39 year old Richards continued, “I intend to bring a new era of politics which embraces unity in the interest of national development. I will bellow the clarion call for the lessening of the tremendous burdens being borne by all citizens of this country particularly the poor as a result of VAT, Increased Utility Rates, ever escalating High Cost of Living and unemployment rates.

I am proud at 39 to follow in the footsteps of the Rt Hon. Dr Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds and his Excellency Sir Robert Bradshaw who both took over the leadership of their respective parties in their 20’s and 30’s and subsequently became highly regarded leaders of our proud country in their early to mid 40’s. Bradshaw became President of the Union at 28 and Sir Kennedy became leader of PAM at 39. The vibrancy and dynamism which they brought at that age when they took over the leadership of their respective organizations is the same vibrancy and dynamism that I intend to bring to the leadership of this great party and eventually the leadership of this country.”

“I have sacrificed much in defense of, in service to, and the upliftment of our people. I have been arrested twice while marching to bring attention to issues that are plaguing the citizens of this country particularly the poor. I have given up my US citizenship in order to serve the people of my beloved country. I slept on the steps of the Pogson Hospital for days to prevent its closure by this labor government as I saw the overwhelming need of this facility to my constituents in Sandy Point and Fig Tree,” the energetic Richards continued.

Hon Richards with the First Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis Rt Hon. Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds

The country and people are crying out for change and much deserved relief from the sad state of affairs of this country. Young political leaders are the ones who can bring about the change in this country as history has shown in 1980 and in 1995. The energy, dynamism, helpfulness, intellect, parliamentary and political experience, appreciation of unity and thoughtful modern approach to tackling current issues of the Hon. Shawn K. Richards makes him the ideal leader for the People’s Action Movement and the country in these modern, tough and trying times.

“I think young political leaders are the ones who can bring about a change and history has shown that to be true. Our country certainly requires young blood to generate a productive change to modify the system into a people-friendly one. I believe the common poor and middle-class man can relate better with the young leader. I have proven over the last 8 years or two elections that I know how to win and what it takes to win against all odds. I have the youthful fire and energy required to lead the charge for change in this great country of St. Kitts-Nevis. I am long ready, I am exceedingly willing and I am overwhelmingly able to lead this great party the People’s Action Movement and take the fight to the labor party and depose Dr. Douglas and remove him and his party from office and bring the much needed relief to our citizens and a change in the political culture of this nation,” said the vibrant Richards.