BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Outgoing Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas Tuesday said he would forever cherish the opportunity given to lead St Kitts-Nevis and wished the new government well following Monday’s general election.

Dr Douglas, 62, failed in his attempt to lead the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) to an unprecedented five consecutive term in power, losing to Team Unity, an amalgam of three opposition parties headed by his one-time senior cabinet colleague, Dr Timothy Harris.

In extending “sincere congratulations”  to the new government, Dr Douglas said he was also extending “sincere and enduring gratitude” to his party “for the sacred honour that you bestowed on our party, by permitting us to manage the affairs of our blessed nation for the past 20 years.

“To the friends and members of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party – you have my undying gratitude. We, in St Kitts & Nevis, are among the blessed of the earth. And we are among the blessed of the earth because our governments are chosen, not by force, not by decree, not by the whim of any force or interest, but by the will of the people.”

He said he hoped citizens would “never, ever forget how truly blessed this makes us”, acknowledging that the campaign for re-election had been “a long and hard” one.

“And what the impassioned, but peaceful – always peaceful – public meetings, rallies, and jousting said to the world, time and again, was that ours is a vibrant and mature democracy, and that Kittitians and Nevisians, a politically mature and responsible people.

“I shall forever cherish having been given the opportunity to lead the Federation of St Kitts & Nevis. And for this most precious of opportunities, I once again thank you,” he said, telling citizens ‘the elections are now over, and although we still await the announcement of the preliminary results, I wish our newly elected Government well”.