By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Tuesday 19th May 2026) — “Women are not decorations, they are the foundation of the labour movements!” So declared Lisa Jawahir, newly-elected Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development in the Saint Lucia Labour Party administration, while delivering the feature address at the 94th Annual Conference of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) on Sunday 17th May 2026 at the party’s new headquarters at Manhattan Gardens in the Lime Kiln Commercial Development in Basseterre. The conference was held under the theme ‘Labour Strong — United In Purpose, Committed to Progress.’
Jawahir told delegates that labour movements were established through sacrifice and struggle on behalf of ordinary people: “We cannot forget why Labour movements were started in the first place; for the people, fighting for the people. The party was not built in comfort. It was built through sacrifice; it was built through struggle by ordinary people who believed that they deserve dignity and representation.” To younger parliamentarians: “It is wise to seek counsel from the elders. Listen to the people who carried the party when it was not fashionable. Listen to the women who cooked and marched and mobilized and sacrificed.” On grassroots campaigning: “Elections are not won in ministries; they are not won behind desks, they are won among the people. I won the campaign by knocking on doors, by going on the ground.” Her call to action: “Protecting the victory is not only Dr. Drew’s responsibility, protecting the victory is your responsibility, the people of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party. The work must continue every day.”