by Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Thirty-four years ago, on March 21, 1989, the Right Hon. Dr Denzil Llewelyn Douglas was first elected as a Parliamentarian in St.Kitts and Nevis and was appointed Leader of the Opposition.
Since the people of St. Christopher 6 first elected him as their Parliamentary representative, he has always held the political seat. When the St. Kitts- Nevis Labour Party won the election of 1995, winning seven of eight seats, Dr. Douglas was sworn in as the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. A notable election for Douglas and that of St. Kitts and Nevis was the General Elections of 2000, where the SKNLP won all eight seats, and he was reappointed to lead the country again. He also led the country following the General Elections of 2004 and 2010.
Despite winning his seat, Dr. Douglas no longer served as Prime Minister due to the Labour Party’s defeat in the 2015 General Elections by the Team Unity Coalition. However, he served as Leader of the Opposition from 2015- 2022.
Dr. Douglas currently serves as Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Economic Development and Investment in the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Notably, Dr. Douglas has received regional and international recognition for his leadership roles in the Fight against HIV and Aids and Non-Communicable Diseases.
The former Prime Minister expressed gratitude to his constituents, individuals and groups from the varying fractions of society who contributed to his successes as a Parliamentarian and the development of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I, therefore, thank the people of the Capisterre region of St Kitts for giving me the opportunity not only to serve them but, through their continued support, to serve the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis as our Federation’s second (2nd) Prime Minister for nearly twenty (20) years, 1995-2015.
Today, I stand satisfied and proud of the tremendous empowerment, achievement and development accomplished for the benefit of our people and the advancement of the Capisterre region in St Kitts and throughout our entire country.
I’m also grateful to the various Teams of Constituency 6 Branch Leaders and Executive Officers who have provided leadership and supportive roles, together with our Officers at the National level of the SKNLP(St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party) who have worked with me to pursue our mandates on behalf of our supporters and citizens throughout the years.
In that regard, I give thanks to the various Ministers of Cabinet and the Senior public servants of the various Administrations I led when in government. I also thank the leadership of the St. Kitts Nevis Trades and Labour Union, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Church and various NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) for their support of the communities in the Capisterre region.”
Douglas began his 34th-anniversary celebration at his home church, St. Paul’s Wesleyan Holiness Church, with a Praise and Worship Service on Sunday, March 19. The celebratory activities continue on Saturday, March 25, with a Health Walk and Breakfast from the Saddler’s Bus Stop to the Robert L Bradshaw Memorial in St.Pauls, beginning at 5 a.m.
