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St Kitts & Nevis: Timothy Harris sworn in as Prime Minister
Timothy Harris has been sworn in as the new prime minister of St Kitts & Nevis.
The country’s Governor General, Edmund Lawrence, has ended a potential political crisis by swearing in the winner of the elections Timothy Harris and his Team Unity alliance.
Governor General, Sir Edmund Lawrence, last evening ended a looming crisis in that country and the region by swearing in the winner of last Monday’s general elections, Team Unity leader, Timothy Harris, as the new Prime Minister.
Harris swore three oaths of office before Justice Carter and received his instruments of appointment from Sir Edmund.
Also sworn in was new Attorney General, Senator Vincent Byron, an ex-officio member of the unicameral National Assembly.
The half-hour ceremony ended two days of uncertainty as to a changing of the guard from the 20-year rule of outgoing prime minister Denzil Douglas, with many local and regional observers bemoaning a delay by Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George, in providing the final elections result.
Harris in his address vowed to uphold his oaths, and equally important, to work towards the deepening of democracy in St. Kitts & Nevis.
“So much of it was under threat,” he related. “We have to redeem it.” He also vowed to promote development to help the country’s “forgotten people” towards a better way of existence. He promised to aim for the two watchwords of “prosperity for all” and “a fairer share for all”.
Thanking God that the elections were over, and that a new government is in place, Harris vowed to get on with nation building for all the people.
Earlier in the day, Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in a statement yesterday congratulated Harris as the new prime minister, and Denzil Douglas for conceding defeat.
“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Harris, as the members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seek to advance regional integration and cooperation,” she indicated.
Last Tuesday during the wait for the results of the elections, several regional leaders had voiced concern over the delay in releasing the results, noting that the region’s reputation for democracy and for free and fair elections, was under threat.
On Tuesday morning the Opposition had begun celebrating based on preliminary results, the country and region was kept in anxiety after Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George, suspended his announcement of results, leading to an outcry in St Kitts & Nevis and CARICOM. George was accused of abdicating his responsibility, amid fears of incumbents trying to cling to office.
Timothy Harris and his Team Unity alliance won a resounding majority. -(CMC)