Little over two years after the last election, Kittitians and Nevisians are back at the polls today, August 5, 2022, looking to elect a government for the next five years. Photo: Internet Source

At least 32 candidates representing six political parties were nominated on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, to contest the general elections, that inccumbent Prime Minister Dr Timothy S. Harris was forced to call three years ahead of the constitutional deadline. Photo: Nation News

At least 32 candidates representing six political parties were nominated on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, to contest the general elections, that incumbent Prime Minister Dr Timothy S. Harris was forced to call three years ahead of the constitutional deadline.

People’s Labour Party (PLP), led by Harris, as well as the main opposition, St Kitts & Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the People’s Action Movement (PAM) are contesting all eight seats on St Kitts, while the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) are contesting the three seats up for grabs on Nevis. The Moral Restoration Movement (MRM) has nominated two candidates in Nevis.

The parties will contest 11 of the 15 seats in Parliament with the other four legislators being nominated by the Governor General following the polls.

Why early elections?

In 2020, Team Unity led by Dr Harris stormed to victory, winning nine of the 11 seats.

According to St Kitts & Nevis Observer, this time around the dynamic would be different with the breaking up of the tri-party coalition and three major parties contesting the election across the 11 constituencies.

Dr Harris was forced to dissolve Parliament on May 10, 2022, paving the way for the general election after legislators from PAM and the CCM – two members of the coalition Team Unity government – accounting for seven of the nine seats in the Cabinet filed a motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister.

Harris scuttled that move by firing the dissidents and indicated he would announce a date for the polls within the stipulated 90-day period.