(Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 6, 2013) St. Kitts-Nevis and the region have heard a great deal, in recent months, about (i) a Motion of No Confidence against the Douglas-led Administration, and (ii) the creation of a Unity political grouping to create anti-Douglas sentiment in the Federation.
Premier Vance Amory of Nevis and his Deputy, The Honorable Mark Brantley, were key members of this Unity grouping which, the Nation was told, was established because of the Douglas Administration’s decision to reduce St. Kitts’ debt by turning over some lands to the National Bank. “No Land For Debt!” and “Unforgiveable Betrayal!” became Unity’s rallying cry.
Indeed, it was The Honorable Mark Brantley who introduced the much-publicized Motion of No Confidence against the Government.
Creating much drama in the Federation, Premier Vance Amory of Nevis and his Deputy Premier, Mark Brantley, have now decided to break with their Unity allies and move to implement the exact same debt-for-land swap, in Nevis, that their Unity grouping had demanded the people use to call for the removal of Prime Minister Douglas.
Opposition to St. Kitts’ land-for-debt swap was the basis of the Motion for No Confidence. And opposition to St. Kitts’ land-for-debt swap was the basis of the formation of the Unity grouping. With Messrs. Amory and Brantley now embracing an identical land-for-debt arrangement with the same National Bank, both the Motion of No Confidence and the Unity Grouping have been dealt a body blow that has stripped them both of all life and steam.