Who will be the new Speaker of the House?
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com
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| Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Marcella Liburd (left) and Sergeant-at-Arms David holding the mace. [A CUOPM file photo] |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the announcement of Marcella Liburd demitting office as Speaker of the National Assembly of St. Christopher and Nevis, many questions are being asked concerning her successor, her future ambition and how one can acquire that prestigious position.
In an effort to satisfy readers who posted the question of how one could acquire the position of Speaker of the National Assembly, SKNVibes contacted the Attorney General’s office and was provided a copy of a section of the Constitution that relates to this office.
The Constitution states that when the National Assembly first meets after any general election and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business, “it shall elect a person to be the Speaker of the Assembly”.
It also states that if the office of the Speaker becomes vacant before the next dissolution of Parliament, the Assembly shall, as soon as practicable, elect another person to that office.
Contrary to the belief of some individuals, the Speaker is not nominated but elected.
“The Speaker,” the Constitution directs, “may be elected from among the members of the National Assembly who are not members of the Cabinet or Parliamentary Secretaries from among persons who are not members of the Assembly but who are qualified for election as a Representative or appointment as a Senator.”
The Constitution further informs that no business shall be transacted in the National Assembly [other than the election of a Speaker] when the office of Speaker is vacant.
On the adjournment of Monday, March 3 Sitting of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas announced that Liburd would be demitting the office. ~~Adz:Right~~
In a release from the Communication Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Douglas informed lawmakers that “The Office of the Prime Minister has received advanced notice that the Speaker of the National Assembly of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis, the Honourable Marcella A. Liburd intends to demit office in the near future before the end of the life of this current Parliament.”
“Though obliged to accept this notice, I have received this with mixed feelings…mixed feelings because of the tremendous leadership that this Assembly has received as a result of the exemplary services provided by you Madam Speaker of this Honourable House and Servant of the people.…mixed feelings because in demitting office it provides you Honourable Madam Speaker the opportunity to serve your people and your country in a different but equally important capacity hopefully in a high office in the future,” Dr. Douglas said.
The Prime Minister advised members that he would call a Special Sitting in the very near future to express their gratitude and support to Liburd for her services to the National Assembly and also to elect a new Speaker with the support of the Leader of the Opposition and members of the House of Assembly.
According to unconfirmed reports, Liburd would be contesting in the upcoming elections as the Labour Party Candidate for Constituency Number Two, replacing the Minister of National Security, Dwyer Astaphan, who recently made his future intention public.
Speculations are rife that the Deputy Speaker, Patrice Nisbett, would move up the ladder, but unconfirmed reports indicate that the new Speaker of the National Assembly may be a young and very popular business executive.
