BASSETERRE, ST.KITTS, OCTOBER 31ST 2012 (CUOPM) – “It is with one’s vote that one signals to one’s supporters, to the world, and to history, where one truly stands on a particular measure.”
So said St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas during his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister,” on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Douglas referred to the recently passed St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (Vesting in Certain Lands) Act, 2012.
At the end of the 12-hour debate on the bill, there was “no” or “nay” vote recorded against “The St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (Investing in Certain Lands)” Bill, 2012.
“It is entirely normal, in legislatures all over the world, for some members to support a bill, while others oppose it. Legislative systems all over the world, however, require those who support a bill to speak strongly on its behalf, pointing out its advantages and then to boldly and clearly vote “Yea.. Because it is with one’s vote that one makes it clear to one’s supporters, to the world, and to history, where one stands - where one truly stands - on a particular measure,” Prime Minister Douglas told listeners.
Prime Minister Douglas, a five-term parliamentarian pointed out that at legislative systems the world over also require those who oppose a bill to speak strongly in opposition to that bill, to point out all of its disadvantages and then to “boldly and clearly vote ‘Nay’ because, again, it is with one’s vote that one signals to one’s supporters, to the world, and to history, where one truly stands on a particular measure.”
“It is with one’s vote – and only with one’s vote - that members of parliament anywhere in the world establish their true position. Their true intent,”said Dr. Douglas, pointing out that when reviewing the respective positions of parliamentarians in Canada, Ghana, Japan, Costa Rica, the United States of America, France, or anywhere else in the world, “the question on which all hangs is ‘How did he [or she] vote?’
“It is to this that the people look. It is to this that the historians look. It is to this that those weighing the support for, and opposition to, any bill look,” said Prime Minister Douglas, pointing out that the Bill was discussed in the Cabinet and it was discussed in parliament.
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