BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 16th April 2021)- Re-elected Political Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and St.Kitts-Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards has indicated that the course for his party’s future leadership of the Federation “has been mapped out for 2025 and it is irreversible.”
 
He was at the time speaking at PAM’s 55th Convention held on the afternoon of Sunday 18th April 2021 in Sandy Point  under the theme ‘Preparing Now For The Future’ at a recreational ground facility.
 
Richards’ speech saw him officially placing his bid to become the next prime minister and the first one from Sandy Point following the next general elections, constitutionally due in the year 2025.
 
That morning, he was re-elected unopposed at the party’s caucus whereby a new executive committee was installed.
 
Notably, PAM currently has the most seats of the Team Unity coalition government holding four while the People’s Labour Party (PLP) led by Dr. Timothy Harris, now in his second term as prime minister, has two and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) of Nevis has three.
 
“After 56 years, PAM has to look at itself in the mirror  and determine its future. Michael Jackson once said ‘I am starting with the man in the mirror’. The change, therefore, must start at the top before it shifts to the boundaries below. I cannot argue against the suggestion that the change should begin now, and that while making that change, I am reminded that the former US President Abraham Lincoln once said: ‘that you must be sure  to put your feet in the right place  then stand firm,” Richards stated.
 
He continued: “As your political leader, I am prepared to make changes because to lead, I must also know how to follow. The former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill  once said politics is not a game but a serious business…So if you examine my actions carefully, you would recognise  that I follow the establishment by Lincoln …I have planted my feet in the right place  and I stood firm nor did I play games with anyone . You know my slogan in number five  has always been  ‘No Gimmicks, No Tricks’.Therefore on the matter of future leadership of St.Kitts and Nevis, there is no need for alarm or concern. That course has been mapped out for 2025 and it is irreversible.Nevermind the recent outburst about three terms and leadership  because commitments are made to be honoured and there should be no fear of departure for political expediency.”
 
The PAM leader remarked that after the last general elections in 2020, he understood that there were strong voices expressing sentiments for a new direction to be taken with respect to the leadership of this country, and also unfounded rumours that were allowed to flourish and were even encouraged  but I was able to remain planted in my core principles of honesty, reliability and trust…For me trust was the anchor that kept me tied to all of the commitments that I have made and when I make a commitment I stand by it- No Gimmicks , No Tricks.
 
Giving an outlook on PAM’s future, Richards had this to say: “Therefore when I tell you today that the future is looking bright for PAM believe me. When I tell you that the  future for St.Kitts and Nevis is also looking bright believe me and so now when I tell you that after the next general elections, there will emerge the first Prime Minister from Sandy Point also believe me….and so in that regard, I also want to say to my Cabinet colleagues  that come the next election, I expect your full support for Shawn to be the next prime minister.”
 
Furthermore, in speaking about Prime Minister Dr.Timothy Harris, he pointed out that “ just as he became the third prime minister of this country, it is my intention to be the fourth prime minister of this country. Just as he became the first prime minister from Tabernacle, I intend to be the first prime minister from Sandy Point.”
 
According to Richards: “My guiding principle as a future leader of this country is to maintain hope and to strengthen the father of each citizen. For us as  a party we have to remember that for us preparing now for the future comes with many responsibilities. It means we are ready to lead but in leading  we must remember that we lead not for ourselves but for the people.”
 
The other members of the PAM executive committee following its 2021 caucus are: Deputy Leaders Lindsay Grant and Eugene Hamilton(Parliamentary Representatives for Constituencies Four and Eight respectively),Chairman Jonel Powell (Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Two),Deputy Chairperson Danielle Warner, General Secretary Natasha Grey, Assistant General Secretary  Azard Gumbs Treasurer  Charles Morton and Public Relations Officer Delwayne Delaney.
 
Notably, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PAM did not host a convention in 2020.