By Devonne Cornelius
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Following weeks of public meetings, rallies and demonstrations by political opponents calling on Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris to announce the election date; he is now anticipated to “ring the bell” on Sunday, July 17, 2022.
According to a poster on the Facebook page of the People’s Labour Party, Dr. Harris will host a campaign rally in Tabernacle on Sunday from 7 p.m. The poster depicts Harris with a bell in his hand hinting at the possibility that he will announce the date of election day.
His opponents, the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party, and former Team Unity partner the People’s Action Movement, have accused Harris of wanting to extend his time in office but Harris says the election will be held at the right time, referencing his constitutional ambit that gives 90 days for an election to be held following the dissolution of Parliament.
On Tuesday, May 10, Dr. Harris shocked the political landscape in the Federation and across the region when he publicly sacked six of his colleagues from their ministerial portfolios only after two years of taking office. Prior to that, Dr. Harris was publicly challenged by his Deputy Shawn Richards and senior Team Unity partner Mark Brantley about allegations of him secretly coveting a third term as Prime Minister. Despite Dr. Harris rubbishing those claims, Team Unity continued to dwindle when other key members came out accusing Dr. Harris of undermining them in their respective ministries.
Political pundits say there is no clear path to victory for any one party so the possibility of another coalition government is highly likely. The People’s Action Movement and the Concerned Citizens Movement have announced their intention to work together. The leaders of the Nevis Reformation Party, the People’s Labour Party and the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party remain tight-lipped on who they may work with but have said they are open to coalitions.
