Round table talks to examine Nevis secession bid

Friday, January 2, 2004

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas is proposing a Round Table talks with the Cabinets of the Federal Government and the Nevis Island Administration, major social partners and key operatives, to examine the options and ramifications of the possible secession of Nevis from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister Douglas in his New Year's message said while the people of Nevis has a constitutional right to self determination, his preference is for both islands to stay together and confront and grapple the challenges that lie ahead as a single entity in this evolving global village.

"I believe our prospects for success in battling the rigors of globalisation would be enhanced if we combined forces, if we would only speak with one voice and act in a collaborative manner in our relations with sub-regional and regional partners in hemispheric and global alliances," Prime Minister Douglas told the Nation.

"At the same time, however, I will not subvert the wishes of our brothers and sisters of Nevis and I certainly would not deny Nevisians whether resident at home or even in St. Kitts, or resident abroad, their constitutional right to pursue a destiny of their own choosing," added Prime Minster Douglas, for "at the end of the day they are and shall remain our well-loved brothers and sisters, whether they are resident in Nevis, whether they are resident in St. Kitts or resident abroad."

He said that he has observed over the past two weeks and up to J'Ouvert Morning and in fact two nights ago, when young Nevisians visited St. Kitts in droves to share and join in the Carnival celebrations. A similar situation occurred in August last year during Culturama celebrations on the sister island of Nevis, when many young Kittitians journeyed to Nevis to participate actively in the Culturama festivities.

"I marvel at this heightened movement of Kittitians and Nevisians between the two islands. Those, who are traveling on the inter-island ferries and engaged in exciting and friendly chatting at the ferry terminals, they are not Kittitians or Nevisians…but they are instead proud citizens of this our beloved Federation," said Dr. Douglas, who added that he also watched with interest "as people step off and step on to the ferries…it is not as if they are venturing into or preparing to exit a foreign land."

"The young professionals and the students of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in particular, co-exist in a most harmonious and co-operative manner. Interestingly, to visitors to the Federation, we are perceived as one people. They see us as 'locals'," said the Prime Minister pointing out further that the "integration and unification of these islands is far deeper than many of us politicians in particular may realise."

Dr. Douglas said a wise man pointed out to him over the festive season that if the politicians were to leave the issue of the relationship between the two islands to the people, and not to the politicians themselves, contentious issues would be resolved without rancor or without discord. 

"I am not sure that that is not an overly simplistic way of putting it, but at least it conveys the message that perhaps more attention ought to be paid to the historic and cultural capacity of Kittitians and Nevisians to work together to overcome differences and to overcome adversity," said Prime Minister Douglas.

Reiterating he has never attempted to nor will do so now to engage the leadership of the Nevis Island Administration in dialogue over the airwaves, Dr. Douglas said it was a urgent and important to residents of this Federation.

"I shall therefore convene a round table session of both Cabinets, together with major social partners and other key operatives in the Federation, to again examine the options and the ramifications of any and all of our actions. The Constitutional Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister will continue to carry forward the recommendations of the Constitutional Commission Report of July 1998 and also the Constitution Task Force Report of July 1999," said Dr. Douglas.

He said his Government remains committed to the view that constitutional reform provides a vehicle for addressing the concerns of the people of the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, a vehicle for avoiding the huge social and economic cost that could result from the splintering of our beloved Federation. 

Dr. Douglas told the Nation that the international community, fully cognisant of the monumental challenges that could be faced by a divided small island state in the increasingly competitive global village, "is also quite willing to assist us in accelerating and expediting this reform process."

"Hence, at the roundtable, I intend to emphasise that while secession is a constitutional right of the people of Nevis that must be respected, it is not the only option available to them," said Prime Minister Douglas, adding: "Whatever the outcome of the roundtable and the constitutional processes, I am determined that the gains we have made over the years as a united and unified people will not be reversed, and furthermore that our very positive rating, economically and otherwise, will be maintained."  

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