BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Opposition in the Federal Parliament has voiced its expectation that members on the Government Benches would throw their weight behind the proposed motion of No Confidence in the government of St. Kitts and Nevis owing to the mismanagement of Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Just yesterday, an announcement was made that Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Mark Brantley had submitted a motion of No Confidence to the Hon. Speaker of the House, Curtis Martin, for tabling in Parliament as soon as possible.
And today (Dec. 6), the Opposition held a press conference at the conference room of the St. Kitts-Nevis Cooperative Credit Union, where its members’ expectations were outlined.
Currently, the makeup of the Federal Parliament is such that there are seven elected Parliamentarians on the Government’s benches with only four on the Opposition’s. And with only these being allowed to vote on a motion of No Confidence, the Opposition’s four votes would not be enough to have it passed.
“Many have asked, ‘With just four members on the Opposition, seven on the government’s side, how do you expect that this motion will carry?’ And our response to that is a simple one. We expect each and every Member of Parliament to search his or her conscience, we expect each and every Member of Parliament to put our country above their party and above their individual aspirations, and we expect people on the government side to vote overwhelmingly in favour of this motion.
“We are appealing to our brothers and sisters on the government benches, while we are at one on our side. We are solid in support of this motion, we are appealing to those on the government benches to come over and to vote for their country rather than putting partisan political interest at the fore.”
Brantley suggested that with the Opposition’s continued expression of its disapproval of the way in which the Prime Minister has managed the affairs of the country, it is now time for those on the Government Benches who share similar sentiments to publicly express their point of view by voting in support of the motion.
“I believe that on any analysis, on any test, on any assessment, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has been a failure for St. Kitts and Nevis and it’s really up to the people now on the Government side who are given this opportunity to stand up and be counted. The nation will be the judge and, ultimately in a democracy, it is important that the people of the country be the judge.”
The Motion, which was originally forwarded to the Speaker of the House, spoke directly to the Prime Minister and the vote of No Confidence in his leadership. But Brantley – today – informed that an amended motion that speaks now to the Opposition’s lack of confidence in the government, which he charged, is as a result of Dr. Douglas’ poor management, was forwarded to the Speaker.
