Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tuesday, 19th February, 2013, (PAM Communications Secretariat) – The chances of the People’s Action Movement, PAM, returning to the seat of Government after the next general elections, have just been boosted with the selection of Mr. Jonel Powell, as its new candidate to contest the next election, in the constituency of Central Basseterre.
Powell was confirmed as the candidate on Tuesday night, 19th February, 2013, during a special meeting that was held at the headquarters of the opposition party, on Lockhart Street, in Basseterre.
The young lawyer, who is also one of the Deputy Chairpersons of the party, is widely expected to defeat the incumbent Labour Party candidate, Marcella Liburd, who has been steadily losing favour with the voters of the constituency.
Powell’s selection is already receiving wides
pread support and endorsements from party supporters throughout the island and from PAM supporters living overseas. One of the first persons to extend congratulations to the dynamic candidate was Mr. Selwyn “Rusty” Liburd, who along with Powell had been engaged in a spirited but cordial primary contest, to be named the candidate for the party. Liburd is also the current Chairman of the People’s Action Movement, and committed to do all within his personal and official capacities, to ensure that Powell is able to regain the Central Basseterre seat for the party.
Powell was also congratulated by party Political Leader Mr. Shawn Richards and his Deputy Mr. Eugene Hamilton, both of whom are current members of parliament.
The news of the selection of Powell was also greeted with excitement and cheers from hundreds of PAM supporters, many of whom gathered at the party headquarters for the official announcement.
For Powell, the next step is to begin the process of preparing for the election that could come in a matter of weeks. He is however confident that given the superior program of benefits and development that is being offered by PAM, for the people of Central Basseterre, it is no surprise that both Labour and PAM supporters have been expressing support for him, as they have stated while visiting constituents during his house to house campaign to talk to the people and learn of their needs and concerns.
According to the PAM candidate, the key message that the people of Central have been communicating, is that the present representative has lost touch with their concerns. They complain that since the elections in 2010, the Labour candidate has hardly been seen in the constituency, much less, taking care of their needs.
PAM officials have indicated that other candidate announcements will shortly be rolled out, as the party finalizes its preparations for the upcoming election.