St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party celebrates 17th Anniversary in Government, PM Douglas renews commitment to the people

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 5TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says July 4th 1995, – the date when he took the Oath of Office and Allegiance as the Federation’s Second Prime Minister “is such a date in the evolution of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party – and indeed of our nation.”

“Because it was on that date in 1995 that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis decided that the time had come for our nation to embark upon a new and progressive direction – one marked by inclusion as opposed to exclusion; by greater opportunities for upward social mobility – for all; and by the climate of access and government-to-people interaction that has marked the last seventeen years of democratic governance in our Federation,” said Dr. Douglas in a statement marking the anniversary of the election victory of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and his appointment as Prime Minister.

“For the resounding expression of faith that this historic vote represented, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party will always be grateful. And, indeed, we have striven valiantly, and with great success in the intervening years, to prove ourselves worthy – whether by our competent, successful transformation of the Federation’s sugar-based economy; the transformation of thousands who owned neither homes nor land into land and homeowners; the expansive infrastructural developments that can be seen throughout the nation; or the unsurpassed investments in university loans and scholarships, we have indeed changed St. Kitts and Nevis for the better. And this we shall always strive to do,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He noted that he would never have had the opportunity to serve as Prime Minister, were it not for the faith placed in him first by his constituents in St. Christopher 6, the members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, and then by Party colleagues.

“This, then, is a moment not only of celebration, but also of thanksgiving – and most importantly of renewed commitment to the people of our country, and to the motto of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party – ‘For the Good That We Can Do’,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

The anniversary also did not go unnoticed by Caribbean leaders attending the current 33rd Conference of Heads of Government Meeting in St. Lucia.

Dr. Douglas’ colleagues showered congratulations and commendations on the landmark.

Current and former Secretaries-General also expressed similar sentiments of the proud historical landmark achievement in modern times.

His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Edwin Carrington shared with heads sending a congratulatory message on behalf of the Conference of Heads of Government just after the July 3rd 1995 elections and later welcoming Prime Minister Douglas, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Second Prime Minister at his first meeting of the Caribbean leaders in Guyana in February/March 1996.