Political commentator Peter Adrien says traditional PAM-Labour politics is distracting citizens from a wider demographic and economic shift taking place in St. Kitts.
Speaking on Freedom FM’s Issues on Monday, Adrien urged listeners to put aside their partisan loyalties and examine the country’s changing population and patterns of ownership.
He pointed to growing numbers of immigrants, wealthy Citizenship by Investment nationals, CARICOM citizens and investors from India and Taiwan, some of whom he said are opening businesses and purchasing property. Adrien, himself an immigrant, included himself in the changing demographic picture.
“Now, what else do you see? You see many, a large number of immigrants, including me, the host, Coach Adrien. In that grouping, you see a large class of wealthy CBI citizens. Keep on looking. Remember, you have moved the entrapment of PAM, all the things that are in Labour that are preventing you from seeing. You open your eyes now. And in that class, you see a large group of Indians and Taiwanese. And you see the Indians are opening their wings, and they are opening stores here and there and there and there. And they are buying property.”
Adrien argued that the traditional PAM-Labour divide is also losing its influence. He said its strongest attachment remains among an ageing generation, while millennials, Generation Z and more recent residents have little interest in bitter, tribal politics.
“It says that the days of old PAM and Labour are gone. That’s the vision. The days of old PAM and old Labour is finished.”
According to Adrien, the more urgent challenge is developing an economy in which nationals and locally owned businesses can compete.
He claimed that some local enterprises are being overtaken by foreign investors with access to more affordable capital. Adrien said the country now needs political leadership capable of addressing international trade, supporting indigenous businesses and creating opportunities for young people.
“At this juncture, the country is calling for a party which understands how to deal with the new economic order, how to deal with the international trade issue, how to spur local entrepreneurship and indigenous business, as every new or every failed local business has been gobbled by the Asians who have access to soft capital from the country. There is need for a party that will speak to the hope and aspiration of the young people.”
Adrien did not present official figures on foreign ownership or comparative access to financing. His remarks were offered as an analysis of the Federation’s changing political and economic landscape.