Basseterre, St. Kitts – September 23, 2026 — Four days from now, on Sunday, September 27, the small community of Verchilds will play host to a landmark political gathering when St. Kitts and Nevis’ People’s Action Movement (PAM) opens the doors to its 60th National Convention at the Samuel-Williams Playfield, kicking off the official program at 4:00 p.m.
This convention arrives at a defining turning point for the 60-year-old opposition party. Earlier this month, members voted to elect Dr. the Hon. Shawn Richards as the party’s sixth political leader, and Convention 60 will serve as the first formal introduction of this new leadership body to PAM’s full national membership. The event will also host a formal vote to ratify the party’s newly selected executive committee, cementing the leadership transition ahead of upcoming political cycles.
Adding a prominent regional perspective to the diamond anniversary celebration, the convention has tapped Jamaica’s Hon. Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, to serve as the keynote speaker. Terrelonge brings a wealth of diverse experience to the role. Raised in the Grants Pen community of St. Andrew, Jamaica, he completed his legal education at the University of the West Indies and Norman Manley Law School before earning a competitive Chevening Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the United Kingdom’s University of Warwick. Early in his career, he worked in Madrid on projects focused on democratic governance and global peace and security, before returning to Jamaica to build a profile as a respected commentator on legal, political, and social issues ahead of his entry into elective politics. Over the course of his public service career, Terrelonge has held portfolios covering education, youth development, information, culture, gender equity, entertainment, and sport, giving him a broad, cross-sectoral perspective on Caribbean political and social issues.
Unlike traditional, formal political conventions, PAM has structured the 60th gathering around active engagement from attending delegates. Organizers have framed the event as a rally-style convention, with scheduled presentations from party candidates and constituency representatives paired with non-stop entertainment running through the afternoon and evening. Delegates are encouraged to dress comfortably to fully participate in interactive sessions, as the new leadership looks to build direct connections with the party’s base. To further boost engagement, the convention will offer a number of giveaways: all attendees will be eligible to win door prizes including $75 USD Amazon gift cards, with a grand prize Apple iPad up for grabs in a general raffle.
For newly elected leader Dr. Richards, the convention is more than a milestone celebration—it is a launchpad for the party’s next chapter. “The evolution of PAM into a bold and forceful opposition party is underway,” he explained. “As the main opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis, we intend, under my leadership, to excite the base again as we go forward with the one intention to form the next government.”
Founded in 1965, PAM marked its 60th anniversary as a political organization in 2025, making this year’s national convention an official capstone to the year of diamond anniversary celebrations. With fresh leadership at the helm, a distinguished guest speaker from across the Caribbean, an interactive, participation-focused format, and clear goals for future growth, Convention 60 positions PAM to unify its members and supporters as it charts a course for the upcoming electoral cycle.