Last Updated on August 13, 2022, 1:48 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Prime Minister Terrance Drew says he has invited his predecessor, Ex-PM Dr Timothy Harris, to unveil his new Cabinet on Saturday during a public ceremony at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium.
Drew was the leader of the main opposition St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) who led the political party to victory in last Friday’s general election, winning six of the 11 seats in the 15-member Parliament of St Kitts and Nevis. The other four seats are to be named by the governor-general.
Former Prime Minister Harris was forced to call the snap election three years earlier than the constitutional deadline after his coalition “Team Unity” government crumpled in June.
“As I have said before, I have nothing personal against him [Harris]. Everything I said was fair and factual in the [election] campaign,” said Dr Drew.
He added, “I was asked about his security and vehicle, and I have told Hilroy Brandy, Commissioner of Police, that he should be left with a vehicle and should be given security.”
Prime minister Drew said that he was not interested in the actions taken against former prime minister Dr Denzil L. Douglas by Dr Timothy Harris when he took the position of prime minister in 2015, when Douglas (who was among the victorious SKNLP candidates in last week’s elections), lost the general election then.
“I criticized what he (Dr Harris) did (to Dr Douglas). I said it was wrong, and now that I am in the (same) position, I have the opportunity to set a new paradigm and that I have done. I have extended that courtesy to him, and I have also invited him to the inauguration of my new Cabinet. He is a former head of government, and I think he deserves to be invited as well,” said Dr Drew.
Prime Minister Drew, who was sworn in last Saturday as the country’s fourth prime minister, said the event would begin at 4:00 PM.
Drew said he had also held talks with the political leaders of the ruling Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and the opposition Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).
“I have communicated with the premier of Nevis (Mark Brantley) and the leader of the NRP (Dr Janice Daniel-Hodge). I have told the premier that the issues with Nevis must be resolved, and I am taking that very seriously.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
