by Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The newest political party to enter the national political arena,, the Moral Restoration Movement will be contesting the upcoming Nevis Island Assembly Election.
Having launched the party in 2021, Mr Samuel Caines, Political Leader of the Moral Restoration Movement, in an exclusive interview with WINN FM, declared that the party is ready to contest at least two seats in the upcoming local election.
“The Moral Restoration Movement, we launched in July (2021) on VON Radio. We had that initial meeting or had that initial presentation at VON Radio, in which it was just myself. We subsequently returned to VON Radio and I had the other candidate for St James with me. Actually, I am the candidate for St Johns and that other candidate, Patricia Jeffers is the candidate for St James,” Mr, Caines said.
Election in Nevis is constitutionally due in March 2023 across five districts however Mr. Caines disclosed that his party is seeking to contest at least three of the five seats, despite the challenges.
“We already had someone for St.Paul’s, Charlestown, but unfortunately, that person pulled out and so we are still looking for a third Candidate. Right now, we are not absolutely sure if we are going to contest St Thomas’ and St George, but surely we want to contest 3 [seats],” he said.
Mr. Caines added, “With regards to if we will contest the local election, absolutely! We will be contesting the next local election.”
In light of the destabilising actions withinTeam Unity and the filing of a Motion of No Confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris, there have been constant debates about a Federal Election being held in the coming months; less than two years after the previous election. Mr. Caines believes that this may constitute a shift in the timeframe of elections in the Federation, hinting at the possibility of the Moral Restoration Movement contesting the Federal Election before the Nevis election.
” You know what is interesting? Never in my wildest thought, would I have thought that there’s a possibility that we will be contesting a Federal Election even before a local election.
Mr. Caines added, “I recalled when we launched, somebody asked me the question, “Will you be contesting the Federal Election as well?” My response was, that’s over some three years from now and I would rather take it one step at a time. Right now we are looking at local elections, trying to get things in place for the local elections; and based on how that goes, we’ll make a determination as to whether we’ll contest the Federal Election and I said to the person at that point in time, I would rather not spend any time thinking about Federal Elections. My goodness! With all the upheaval in St Kitts, now, we might just be contesting the Federal Elections before a local election.”
