BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LEADER of Her Majesty Loyal Opposition in the Federal Parliament the Hon. Mark Brantley is responding to criticisms about the Opposition’s failure to remain in the House and register its vote against the recently-passed St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (Vesting of Certain Lands) Bill 2012.
The Bill was passed on Friday, September 21, 2012 vesting some 1 200 acres of crown land into National Bank to settle debt owed by the government of St. Christopher and Nevis.
It was however met with strong opposition from the Opposition Members along with Deputy Prime Minister Sam T. Condor and Senior Minister Dr. Timothy S. Harris.
Passed at approximately 11:00 that evening, none of the three Opposition Members registered their vote against the bill.
Some – inclusive of Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald – have criticised the Opposition for not seizing the opportunity to register its disapproval of the Bill by vote.
Brantley however categorised Archibald’s argument as emotional and impractical and noted that the culture that exists within the Federation is one where more is demanded of the Opposition than the government “which is making the lives of our people miserable”.
In defending his actions, Brantley explained that Parliamentarians who reside on St. Kitts have an advantage because their homes are short distances away, but he and the Hon. Vance Amory have to traverse the waters to get to theirs.
“I live in Nevis. I am not apologising for the fact that I live in Nevis. The ferries – as everybody knows – leave St. Kitts at a particular time and I need to get home to my family. Parliamentarians who function in St. Kitts, they jump into their cars and they drive home. I have to brave the high seas to get to my home. And I think it is very unfair to ask me to stay in St. Kitts until 11 at night, don’t have any place to stay, not knowing where I will put my head, and if I have to get a hotel, to pay for it out of my own pocket.
“The reality is that we are all there to serve but people need to be practical. And two of those Parliamentarians – Mr. Amory and I – we have to brave the seas to get to our homes. So it is an easy thing for people to say we could have stayed there until 11 or 12 at night. That is a matter for them. And certainly there will be occasions when lodging arrangements can be made and we do that.”
The Opposition Leader said there were times when he made the concerted effort “at great expense to stay in a hotel just to ensure that I am there. But on this occasion, as I said, I had to come home and I don’t apologise for that. That’s my home and that’s where I live.”
