Antigua PM calls for post-election healing

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, March 16, 2009 - Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has called on Antiguans and Barbudans to put aside their differences and political partisanship in the interest of the country.
 
His message of the need for national healing came at yesterday's National Service of Thanksgiving at the Antigua Recreation Grounds.
 
"My most fervent prayer today is that the anger and the spite that poisons our land shall be washed away by a people, and a nation united in prayer," Spencer said.
 
"The time to continue the work of and for the people has come. It has been said that man should remember that upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. We must all come together in the interest of Antigua and Barbuda.
 
"After the animosity and the anger of the election season, let us vow today to make the coming days and months and years an enduring season of renewal," the Prime Minister added.
 
During the just ended election period, there were incidents of confrontation between the main parties - the United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) - that included verbal and physical assaults.
 
There had been repeated calls for the party's candidates and supporters to remain calm amid their differences.
 
Ahead of last Thursday's poll, the parties and independent candidates signed codes of conduct promising to adhere to high standards on the campaign trail and on Election Day.
 
There were no reports of violence on that day.

Add to: del.icio.us | Digg