By Shawn Seabrookes
Senior Reporter-SKNVibes.com
The ruling Labour Party Administration, headed by Dr. The Hon. Denzil Douglas, says that the electoral reform process that they are presently undertaking is a fair operation that ultimately ensures one man, one vote.
This was disclosed during a press conference at Masses House, Church Street, on Tuesday afternoon, August 21st.
Prime Minister Douglas, who is also the Party Leader, vehemently supported his party’s actions in the movement toward electoral reform and chided the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) for “just talking, making noise and flipflopping, in an effort to try to confuse the listening public.”
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| L-R) Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis, Hon, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Chairman of the Labour Party Hon. Timothy Harris, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee Hon. Sam Condor and Senator, Hon. Nigel Carty |
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He branded the ongoing electoral reform process as a smooth and transparent way of demonstrating the accountability of his Labour Party to look after the affairs of the St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Prime Minister stated that his Labour Party has been at the forefront of the agitation for electoral reform.
He said that the process is deliberately long so as to touch on all aspects and eventually the public will realize that the process redounds to their benefit.
He explained that for now the Party has been commended for the wide consultations it has held in the initial stages of the process, the number of committees established to ascertain the smooth going of the process, for his Party’s integrity in taking such a bold step and the steps taken to ensure that overseas national are not disenfranchised.
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| Parliamentary Committee Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Sam Condor |
Leader of the governing Labour Party and Prime Minister f St. Kitts & Nevis, Hon, Dr. Denzil Douglas |
Labour Party Chairman, Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris |
~~Adz:Right~~ Dr. Douglas indicated that the ongoing process points to the principles of his Party- transparency, accountability and good governance.
Parliamentary Committee Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Sam Condor, supported his Party Leader’s claim and described the ongoing electoral reform process as the most important constitutional development since St. Kitts and Nevis attained independence in 1983.
He also noted that it is a continued development of the democratic process, since its germination in 1952 of adult suffrage.
Minister Condor, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, said they were bent on preserving and protecting the democratic process in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Senator Nigel Carty also addressed several issues that have been a sour point with the opposition PAM Party, especially the issue relating to finger printing on the Voter ID card.
He indicated that not even the PAM truly wants finger printing on the ID card but they are pressing the issue to try and confuse people.
The brief press conference was hosted by the Labour Party Chairman, Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris, underscored his Party’s consistent lobbying for electoral reform , even whilst not in power.
He revealed that after the 2004 elections, his Party decide to launch the electoral reform process, with widespread consultations, unlike that undertaken by the PAM, in 1983, when the process was done in Parliament, with just and hour’s notice.
The electoral reform process began a year ago and Labour Party officials say they hope to complete the process in about six months’ time.
