By Caribbean News Global contributor
BASSETERRE, St Kitts –The opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) refused Wednesday’s so-called formal opening of the St Kitts and Nevis National Assembly as it marks the “beginning of the reign of an oppressive and illegitimate regime.”
“This decision was taken after thoughtful and careful deliberation based on the assessment of the massive malpractices that tarnished the political environment of the June 5, 2020 general election, which in our view, was neither free, fair nor just. However, the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party remains unswervingly committed to representing the people’s concerns, desires and aspirations throughout the Federation,” the SKNLP statement said.
The two elected representatives, Dr Geoffrey Hanley (St Christopher 1 (East Basseterre) and Dr Denzil L Douglas (St Christopher 6) “refuse to be complicit in sanctioning a system of apparent ‘election-rigging and voter suppression’ that has been established, promoted and protected by the illegitimate Dr Timothy Harris-led coalition regime. In the face of the rampant corruption, massive fraud, widespread irregularities and allegations of bribery, the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party intends to send a strong message that ‘Democracy Matters’ and we will not stand by and allow such practices to become the norm in our voting and election processes here in St Kitts and Nevis.”
NextGen SKN noted that six election petitions have been filed in the St Kitts High Court challenging the return results returned in St Christopher 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 with a clear view to trigger fresh elections so that the true will of the people can be determined.
“We insist that the conduct of the June 5, general election represented a miscarriage of justice and democracy. It denied the participation of properly constituted international observer missions to independently monitor the voting process. These and other practices gravely compromised due process and distorted the electoral results.
“The SKNLP will not rest until the will of the people prevails and democracy is restored to our blessed Federation,” said the SKNLP statement.
