Nevis voters choose to stay with St Kitts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NEVIS FAILED to become one of the world's smallest countries yesterday, but it did force the world to take its self-determination drive seriously, the Caribbean island's premier said. Nevis, a mountainous patch of green with 9,000 people, needed a 67 percent vote in Monday's referendum to secede from neighbouring St Kitts, population 32,000. It got 62 percent.
The outcome was a blow to Nevis Premier Vance Amory, who led an independence campaign based on islanders' resentment of their treatment by the St Kitts- based federal government. Secession failed in part "because change sometimes is so difficult to accept," Mr Amory said. But he added: "What is important is that 62 percent indicated support."
That wasn't lost on Denzil Douglas, prime minister of the embattled federation. Mr Douglas immediately offered to seek constitutional reforms that would grant Nevis more control over its own affairs. "We have had our difficulties. We have had our differences," Mr Douglas said. "I want the people of Nevis to give us the opportunity, to give us the chance, to work with them."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments