BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST days after the Chamber of Industry and Commerce called upon the Political Leader of the Federation – the Rt. Hon. Denzil L. Douglas - to table the Motion of No Confidence with immediate effect, both the St. Kitts Christian Council and the St. Kitts Evangelical Association have added their voices to that call.
Late last evening (Feb. 3), the associations jointly forwarded a copy of an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Douglas expressing their view that the Federation is “facing a serious political crisis”.
The seriousness of the crisis was made clear – they explained – following a series of meetings with the PM, former Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor, former Senior Minister Timothy Harris, the passage of the Senators (Increasing of Number) 2012 Bill and the resignation of Condor from Dr. Douglas’ Cabinet.
With these adding to the “political tension” which already exists within the Federation, the SKCC and the SKEA have called for an expeditious tabling of the Motion.
“Sir, as was also shared with you at our recent meeting, the Constitution makes provision to address and respond appropriately to this political crisis. The St. Kitts Christian Council and the St. Kitts Evangelical Association therefore call upon you to bring to Parliament and have debated the Motion of No Confidence without further delay and before any other business is brought to the Parliament.”
The two associations expressed their belief that the immediate tabling of the Motion is “in the best interest of our nation at this very trying time. Mr. Prime Minister, we solicit your immediate attention and action to this matter as we consider it of highest priority and urgency”.
The Motion of No Confidence was filed in early December 2012 by Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Federal Parliament and the expectation was that it would have been dealt with before any other Parliamentary matter would have been addressed.
A two-month period has elapsed since the Motion was forwarded and since then the Senators Increase in Numbers Bill has been passed and, as suggested by Prime Minister Douglas, the 2013 Budget is next for debate.
