Published 29 March 2017
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS,March 28, 2017 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — The Peoples Labour Party’s (PLP) inaugural National Convention held on Saturday March 25 at the Recreational Grounds in Tabernacle Village is roundly being hailed as not only being a runaway success but many observers are saying it is a political game changer that has raised the bar for all the political parties in the country.
“As the Party Leader, I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support that we saw on Saturday,” said PLP’s Political Leader Dr the Hon Timothy Harris during an appearance on People’s Choice programme on Sugar City 90.3 FM where he was the guest of host Ambassador Michael Powell on Monday March 27.
“It was a fantastic and joyous occasion and the atmosphere was the most conducive one to the execution of the business of the convention. I want to place on record that while this was principally a Peoples Labour Party event, the solidarity that came from all the partners of the Team Unity was overwhelming and much welcome.”
Dr Harris, who is also the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis paid tribute to the country’s first Prime Minister the Right Excellent and Right Honourable Sir Dr Kennedy Simmonds, the only surviving National Hero, for gracing them with his presence. Sir Kennedy and former PAM Cabinet Minister Mr Richard Caines were the first dignitaries to arrive at the venue.
“Equally (I want to pay tribute) to the leadership and membership of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and the Concerned Citizens’ Movement (CCM) for coming out in such good numbers in particular I thank the Hon Shawn Richards, and the Hon Vance Amory, and the Hon Mark Brantley,” remarked the PLP Leader. “These three good gentlemen brought fraternal greetings and gave tremendous support to what we were going to do.”
According to Dr Harris, the programme was well executed, and among those who participated includeda renowned artist coming from the USA,Ms Daveda Browne who is a native of St. Kitts.
“I want to thank her for her angelic voice and to the splendour that she brought to the occasion,” said the Prime Minister. “Our own home grown talents are not to be excluded and let me commend Ms Shirley Williams for doing a very special rendition created by her own genius for that particular occasion. Shirley Williams hails from Lodge Project and I want to thank her for always being ready to provide excellent support to us on occasions like these.”
The PLP Political Leader also took time to give appreciation to all the people who came, particularly the persons that came from all the constituencies as official members, not just supporters, which he added was an important distinction, but as card-holding paid up members in good standing with the PLP.
“We have been able to inspire persons who had never before (become members of political parties) while some have been supporting the party, they had never before signed up as an official member of a political party,” reported Dr Harris.
“Hundreds of them did so during the last couple of weeks leading up to our convention and I am advised by the Deputy Chairman (Mr Craig Tuckett who was with him in the studios) that several also opted to sign up on the convention day, because they became enthused not only about our policy, but by our tremendous appeal and by the knowledge that the PLP as an important partner in Team Unity was doing the right thing and that we were serving the country well.”
The PLP Political Leader opined that the enthusiasm to join the party by young persons would make the Peoples Labour Party an invincible force in the next general elections and he encouraged all those who have not yet signed up to go to the PLP Secretariat which is located at Main Street in Tabernacle and is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily including on Saturdays.
“You can also contact any of the (branch) chairpersons because importantly we now have official constituency structures in all constituencies in St. Kitts and Nevis,” advised the Political Leader.“We have advanced tremendously and we have therefore not only become even more legitimate as a political force – we have become more potent, more coherent as a grassroots party and we intend to live up to that. It is a young party.”
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