NRP UNFULFILLED MANDATE FOR SECESSION

“As a young man I was a secessionist, but I have come to realize that the key of having a great relationship with St. Kitts is through negotiation which is what my government is presently establishing with the St. Kitts Cabinet.”

Premier of Nevis, Joseph Parry informed Nevisians in Bedford, England, on his view on secession for Nevis.

It is amazing that Nevisians have to wait until the Premier goes overseas to hear his views on secession. The topic of secession was virtually unheard of during NRP's last election campaign. This was not a topic that was discussed on the platform nor was there a mere mention of it in the NRP manifesto. If one was to do a search of the NRP manifesto for the word SECESSION, it will not be found.

Mr. Parry has being warned by the founding Father of NRP, Hon. Dr. Simeon Daniel, that this ''great relationship" he is seeking with the Labour government is a farce. Mr. Daniel said of the St. Kitts government that "a leopard cannot change its spots"(audio). I would implore Mr. Parry not to make the same mistakes as Eugene Walwyn and the UMN made in the 1960's. If one review the history of that situation one will find a similar situation. UMN said that secession was its main goal then Mr. Walwyn cross the aisle and joined the Labour government because "his purpose was to keep St. Kitts and Nevis together".

Just like UMN, NRP was founded for the primary purpose of seeking secession for Nevis, to that end the party's manifesto in 1975 stated,
"The N.R.P. will strive at all costs and gain secession for Nevis from St. Kitts-..."
The 1980 NRP manifesto in its entity stated,
" The Nevis Reformation Party will continue to seek Secession for Nevis at all costs."

Whenever Nevisians have been asked for a mandate for secession by NRP, the answer has always being a resounding YES. The elections of 1975 and 1980 during which as stated the NRP asked for a mandate on secession, the party won over 80% of the votes. In 1977 when Nevisians over 18 years old were asked in a referendum "Do you support Secession for Nevis from St. Kitts" 4,193 votes of the 4220 total votes cast voted YES.

The founding fathers of NRP have always being stalwarts of this mandate given to them over the years: Ivor Stevens in an address to parliament in 1980 after NRP joined the coalition government told Nevisians that the coalition was "a marriage of convenience" but he reassured us that, " The people of Nevis stand firm on their demand for self determination for Nevis. Our position is Secession ever, recession Never." NRP leader and Nevisian statesman Hon. Simeon Daniel also told us in 1980, " I have not abandoned the demand for Secession for Nevis I have a mandate to obtain Secession for the people of Nevis and when the time comes I would press for it."

It is clear that whenever NRP has asked for a mandate from the people of Nevis on the issue of self determination, it was always given an overwhelming YES for Secession. If this is a mandate that NRP can no longer bear then it is imperative that Mr. Parry address Nevisians and inform then of this. For fifteen years NRP has being coy on the Secession issue, it is time to lay your cards on the table Mr. Parry.