Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 January 2015, 4:00 by GxMedia
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas Tuesday night announced that nationals of the twin-island federation will go the polls on February 16, 2015.
Nomination Day for candidates for the eight constituencies on St Kitts and three on Nevis is February 6, 2015.
Parliament was dissolved on January 16, 2015.
Addressing a rally of his St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party, Douglas called for a peaceful election while at the same time he cautioned that his supporters would not permit violence. “No political violence but I ask you if you are being in any way a subject of violence you got to protect yourself and defend yourself as well,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed several times that election-related unrest would not be tolerated. “we don’t want any violence but I tell you all already is only warriors I want with me,” said Douglas, adding that they must not allow themselves to victims of violence.
His announcement of the date for general elections came hours after a High Court judge ruled against the opposition Team Unity’s application for an injunction on grounds that the process that the Douglas administration used to re-demarcate the constituencies was unfair.
The four-term Prime Minister lashed out at his former Deputy Prime Minister, Sam Condor and former Foreign Minister, Timothy Harris for being power-hungry. Saying that Condor was his trusted friend, he expressed grave disappointment that the veteran politician was part of a team that had advocated for Harris to take power.
Condor resigned in January 2013, around the same time that Douglas fired Harris. They, however, remained parliamentarians and so relegated the Douglas administration to a minority status.
Several no-confidence motions against Douglas’ administration were never placed on the parliamentary agenda for debate and as a result have been the subject of High Court proceedings.
Team Unity includes Condor, Harris, other disaffected St Kitts Nevis Labour Party supporters, People’s Action Movement, People’s Liberation Movement and the Concerned Citizens Movement on Nevis.
The St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party has since teamed up with the Nevis Reformation Party to contest the polls.
