Draft electoral reform legislation goes to National Assembly
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| The Government Side during Wednesday's Session of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly. (Photo by Erasmus Williams) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 24TH 2007 (CUOPM) – Electoral reform in St. Kitts and Nevis moved one step closer to reality on Wednesday, when the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2007 was introduced and given its First Reading in the lawmaking body.
Speaking at Tuesday’s “Face to Face,” which marked the Third Anniversary of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government’s October 2004 victory at the polls, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas noted the promise made a year ago to introduce a new Electoral System.
“The process continues towards the goal of Electoral Reform in a fully transparent manner in ensuring that, in St. Kitts and Nevis, our governments will always come to power based on one person, one vote; and that in St. Kitts and Nevis, our governments will always be based on the will of the majority,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
The National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2007, when passed will amend the National Assembly Elections Act, Cap. 162 in order to prescribe and clarify the qualifications relating to residence or domicile in Saint Christopher and Nevis by expressly setting out the categories of persons who may qualify to be registered as a voter for the purpose of electing a Representative in a constituency; to make new provision for the issuance of national identification cards to be used for election purposes and to provide for related matters.
~~Adz:Right~~ Last year August, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis presented a White Paper in the lawmaking body outlining the process for electoral reform and the preferred steps through which consultation with stakeholders and implementation of electoral reform will result in a legally reformed electoral system.The White Paper noted that through proper consultation with all social groups, political parties, and the general public, the Government will ensure that these reforms guarantee that future elections in St. Kitts and Nevis continue to be free and fair and in keeping the democratic and constitutional rights, these reforms will not disenfranchise any voter as the reforms seek to introduce a modern and efficient electoral system.
Government had reviewed the report of the ‘Commonwealth Expert Team’ on the general elections of 2004, the Report of the ‘CARICOM Observers’ of the general elections of 2004, and the Report of the ‘Commonwealth Assessment Mission’ of 2005, and based on the commitment given in the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party 2000 Election manifesto, pursued the proposed reforms, leading to the modernisation of the electoral process.
Several committees were established and a comprehensive national consultation was put in motion.
The Electoral Reform Consultative Committee (ERCC) conducted national consultations with all stakeholders around St. Kitts and Nevis and with nationals residing in Anguilla, St. Maarten/St. Martin, the United States Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom about the proposed new electoral framework and sent its report directly to the National Advisory Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee (NAERBC), which after extensive discussions sent its own report to the Parliamentary Constitutional & Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee, which is a National Assembly Sub-Committee.After considering the report from the Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee, the Report was sent to the Attorney General’s Chamber for forwarding to a drafting expert in Barbados.
