St. Kitts and Nevis' Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor has hailed the "unprecedented effort by Government, for openness, transparency, accountability and full involvement of our people in the process of Electoral Reform."
Accepting the Report from Mr. Raphael Archibald, Chairman of the National Advisory Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee, Mr. Condor, said the Parliamentary Constitutional and Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee, of which he is Chairman, will set to work judiciously to complete the process in time.
The National Advisory Electoral and Boundaries Committee had representation from the St. Kitts Christian Council represented by Archdeacon Valentine Hodge; the St. Kitts and Nevis Evangelical Associations represented by Rev. Dr. Oldain Charles; the St. Kitts - Nevis Trades & Labour Union, represented by Mr. Stanley Franks; the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce represented by Mr. Charles Brisbane; the St. Kitts Teachers Union, represented by Mr. Clyde Christopher; the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association, represented by Mrs. Patricia DublinLewis; Director of Youth, Mr. Geoffrey Hanley; the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) represented by lawyer Theodore Hobson; the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), represented by lawyer Herman Liburd and the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) represented by Mrs. Eugenie Byron-Condor.
Mr. Condor noted that the opposition People's Action Movement was invited but refused in writing to take part in this process. "And I just want to repeat that the PAM has officially refused, declined an opportunity to be part of this process," said Mr. Condor. He said that the Labour Party in opposition and in Government, has over the years, repeatedly called for, and promised Electoral Reform of a system that has been manipulated, corrupted, by the People's Action Movement in Government in 1983 and 1984.
"This was done without due notice or discussion with Parliament or the General Public," said Mr. Condor, who added that the record will show that under the People's Action Movement, "in less than 48 hours, there was a complete change of the Electoral Process, rushed through Parliament without adequate notice to the Parliamentarians or any discussion with the general public and that is a matter of public record."
Mr. Condor said that over the past several years, there were Commonwealth Missions at the request of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government. It was the Mission of 28th September 2005 that undertook an in-depth assessment of the Electoral System and recommended a way forward, in their subsequent Report.
He said that the Report has constituted the background and basis for the process being undertaken at this time and stated the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat has been, and continues to be an integral part of this process. Assistance is also being received from the Washington-based Organisation of American States (OAS).
Mr. Condor said that reform of the electoral process started in earnest immediately following the 2004 General Elections with the re-establishment of the Parliamentary Constitutional, and Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee. The passing of resolution to establish the four committees and the tabling of the White Paper on Electoral Reform cleared the way for an official launch on 23rd August 2006 at the St. Kitts Marriott.
"At this Launch there was representation of all Political Parties in Parliament, and may I just note that the PAM was represented at that launch and there was also support from CARICOM in the person of Ambassador Collin Grandenson and from the Commonwealth Secretariat in the person of Ms. Juliette Solomon," Mr. Condor, who said that this was again a demonstration of an open and all-inclusive process.
"There was overwhelming and unqualified support for the initiative and the process from all concerned. In fact, it was explicitly stated that this process was unprecedented in the history of the English-speaking Commonwealth," said Condor, who is Leader of Government Business in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly.
He also said it was important to note that this report, as comprehensive as it is, does not include the section that reviews the report from the Boundaries Technical Committee. It is believed however, that in the interest of time, that aspect, when received and reviewed, could be presented as an addendum, since it would not impact on the body of the report.
The members of the Boundaries Technical Committee are " Mr. James Buchanan, Licensed Surveyor; Ms. Beverly Harris " Statistician; Mr. Oliver Knight " Demographer and Ms. Jefferine James, Economist; in keeping with the Terms of Reference of the White Paper.
He said that the task now is to undertake to continue the process as stipulated in the White Paper.
Besides Minister Condor, other members of the Parliamentary Constitutional & Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee are Hon. Dwyer Astaphan; Hon. Dennis Merchant (replacing the former Attorney General, the Hon. Delano Bart who was a member of the committee); Hon. Malcolm Guishard (to be replaced and that person will be named shortly); Hon. Patrice Nisbett and Hon. Shawn Richards.
This Committee is intended to be an ad hoc Parliamentary Sub-Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Leader of Government Business. It shall consider issues raised and recommendations made by the National Advisory Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee on the changes and improvements that are necessary to ensure that future elections in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis continue to be free, fair and in-keeping with a contemporary manifestation of a modern and efficient electoral system.
The Committee, according to the White Paper, would be expected to consider and make recommendations on changes to the electoral system that would impact on:
(i) The Laws of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis; and
(ii) The Constitution of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The initiative taken by this Labour Party Government to introduce and implement a modern and efficient Electoral System that will work for the common good of all our citizens - a system that involves the full participation of our people, is certainly something novel in this country.
It's a welcome and blessed change to the way the affairs of his country were governed and managed under the Simmonds PAM/NRP Administration, headed by Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, who for 15 long years sought to stifle and silence the voice of the opposition; and tolerated no form people participation or consultation with the public on issues of critical national importance.
We concur with the Honourale Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly that this is truly a historic moment in the political development of St. Kitts and Nevis and that when the history of this phenomenal political development is written the steps taken by this Labour Government to bring about meaningful electoral reform will feature prominently on the books.
It demonstrates beyond a doubt the high level of political maturity we have arrived at, as a result of the important and decisive change of government the electorate and people of this country made on July 4, 1995.
The presentation of the report on Tuesday 3rd, July, as Minister Condor pointed out, was therefore very timely as it coincided with the Labour Party's 12th Anniversary in government and the activities marking the Party's 75th Anniversary in accordance with its motto of "For the Good that we can do".
