At 91 years old, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is the oldest political movement in the English speaking Caribbean; an organisation which continues to put on a pedestal that its foundation principle is to uplift the ordinary man and woman, and overall to commit to the betterment of its people and nation for the good that it can do.
The new leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Prime Minister, Dr. Terrance Drew-during an appearance on Freedom FM’s Issues Wednesday 25th January 2023 episodedescribed the SKNLP as being more than just a political party, saying it is a movement.
Throughout the world, this is what labour movements are known for, and so right at home many people get to experience the nature and philosophy on just what type of pedigree this political movement-the oldest political party also in St. Kitts-Nevis is made of.
The Workers’ League, 1952 Adult Suffrage (the right to vote), comprehensive secondary education, access to health care, acquisition of land in the 1970s, Social Security in the 1970s (following the Providence Fund), deep water port and airport as well as water and energy infrastructure for modern nation building were some of the critical achievements listed by Party Leader Drew. In his words: “Most of what we enjoy today are as a direct result of work of the St.
Kitts-Nevis Labour movement, and so irrespective of people’s political persuasion today, they of course would also be reminded to say thanks to the St. KittsNevis Labour movement; everybody in St.
Kitts and Nevis benefitted from it. The fact that you have a 40-hour work week; things that we take for granted..the fact that you have the right to play, meaning entertainment and so forth; things that we take for granted today had to be fought for.” He said the SKNLP has made significant strides for our people, nation and region and even worldwide.
Without any political biases, if one is to ponder about the development of St. KittsNevis and its people, then rightfully many would agree that kudos does belong to the Labour movement. However, the sad reality is that oftentimes in our small society like ours, divided political support clouds our vision in ‘giving jack his jacket’ as the colloquial saying goes.
We often boast as a people about how proud we are to be Kittititans and Nevisiansa citizen of this land and of course of residents who originally hail from the Caribbean and further abroad who call the Federation home can speak highly too, and so in the context of social, economic and political advancement, the SKNLP surely is a subject matter when we track our growth and development as a people. We must not allow party politics to subtract from our thoughts, the honest reality cataloged through the annals of history, that the St.
Kitts-Nevis Labour Party does deserve its due credit and recognition on a national scale. When we proudly echo our nation’s motto ‘Country Above Self’, indeed our thoughts and actions must wholeheartedly embrace all aspects which mold the social, economic and political advancements which make us beam with pride.
