St. Kitts – Nevis Prime Minister – Dr. Denzil Douglas
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 02, 2009 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas informed the nation on Friday night that he will make important announcements at the end of the traditional Labour Day March next Monday.
Speaking at a massive public meeting, following the mini-motorcade of the 8 Miss Labour contestants, Dr. Douglas urged the huge crowd at the Bus and Ferry Terminal, to march in solidarity with the workers, for law and order and against drugs, guns, violence and crime in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“March in solidarity with the workers of this country; those who are employed and those who are unemployed in recent times,” he said.
Commending his Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, the Hon. Sam Condor for handling the recent situation of terminating the services of nearly 100 workers at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Prime Minister Douglas reiterated his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government will not allow exploitation of the workers.
“These are challenging times. We are not happy when our own people have lost their jobs. We understand the global situation, but we have to make sure that the Marriott does not in any way take advantage of the workers of this country,” said Dr. Douglas.
Using the strongest language to date on the termination of the Marriott workers, Prime Minister Douglas said while his government will work with the developers to ensure the planned expansion materialises, “we shall not stand idly by and allow any exploitation of our workers.”
He called on workers to show solidarity for the government’s programme to provide continued affordable housing, improved healthcare and continued educational opportunities for the nation’s youth and children.
Dr. Douglas said the YES programme which now employs 800 persons is evidenced of a government that cares for the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Young people he said must shun their anti-social behaviour and the government is committed to find alternative activities and the YES programme had done that.
Reiterating this “badness was outta style,” Prime Minister Douglas declared that this gang and violent activity will not be tolerated.
“I need your support. You must speak to your children. You must know what your children are doing. We cannot afford for your young boys and girls to become drug users and drug pushers by those unscrupulous drug pushers in this country,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
“We cannot do it alone. The police cannot do it alone. The army cannot do it alone. We need the support of the parents and everyone else,” said Dr. Douglas.