Last Updated on May 23, 2020, 4:10 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Announcing his resignation Thursday as St Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Sam Condor said the upcoming general elections give the people of St Kitts and Nevis to fix the myriad of problems facing the twin-island.
“These include – Electoral and Constitutional Reform, Unifying our fractured Nation, Good Governance, Sustainability and Resilience — and our very survival in a hostile world. Fellow citizens, our ability to rise to the moment, is about to be tested once again … shall we triumph? – or will we flounder and perish like so many other- “once great” Nations,” asked Condor, a former deputy prime minister, in the past St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) administration.
Condor challenged each and every citizen to examine his/her conscience and summon the innate strength and courage necessary, to make the right and wise decision in the upcoming watershed election. This is pivotal to our future, as we are at the crossroads and must make wise choices on leadership, policy directions and the kind of country we want to live in, post-Covid19 and beyond,” said Condor.
Condor said that he has done some serious soul-searching over the past several months, undergoing painstaking introspection and retrospection and that the COVID-19 Lockdown has afforded him the time to pause, to reflect and to renew his sense of duty and purpose and he has come to the conclusion that his task is yet unfinished.
He told the nation that the People’s Labour Party (PLP) that he co-founded has deviated from its founding principles and he can no longer influence its direction.
“This issue is so dear to my heart, that I have determined that I must remain ever resolute and consistent. And so, I stand here today, disappointed that my dream of a better SKN has not been realized by once idealistic colleagues, who in five short years have forgotten why the Unity construct and its agenda appealed to so many of our people. It is a regret that they have failed to implement the Good Governance Agenda that was our mantra in 2015,” said Condor at a press conference.
He said the good governance measures were deemed urgent and necessary to strengthen democracy and to end the vicious cycle of recrimination, tribalism and hostility among the people.
“Unfortunately, we have not seen the focus necessary to address this level of divisiveness in our society,” said Connor who announced his intention to challenge any status quo, that does not accord to principles and justice.
“This I have done all my life, for I deem it essential to our continued progress and development as a society and people,” said Condor, who disclosed that in the weeks ahead “I will seek to address in more detail, the episodes and observations that informed my decisions. More importantly, I will share my views for the way forward for our Nation. I feel compelled to fight for the realization of our aspirations, as a people. I see it as my duty to do what I can to assist in strengthening the institutions upon which our country was built.”
Having had much time to reflect on his affiliations, past and present, Condor said he has concluded that it is more prudent to be part of a movement – the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party – that has shown contrition for its missteps and is prepared to censure itself.
“Honesty, humility and selfless service have always been my watchwords, and I will never compromise them for anything or anyone. That is why I am at peace with all of my decisions, past and present. I ask that every citizen do a similar sober soul-searching, introspection and retrospection. I urge all to approach the upcoming poll with an open mind, and seriously scrutinize every candidate and every party. I implore you to make wise decisions for the future of the next generation and the country as a whole,” said Condor.
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.
