Many have followed the drama unfolding in St Kitts and Nevis over the last fifteen (15) months as a recalcitrant government, devoid of legitimacy, morality and constitutionality, has done everything in its power to thwart the will of the people exercised through their elected representatives to vote on the Motion of No Confidence. This malicious infringement of section 52 (6) is being perpetuated by the Speaker of National Assembly, aided and abetted by the Douglas cabal.
Earlier this month, a three (3)member delegation from Team Unity visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines. One of our objectives was to personally thank the Hon Arnhim Eustace, Political Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), for his courageous and consistent advocacy for the tabling and debate of the Motion of No Confidence in St Kitts and Nevis. Hon Arnhim Eustace has enjoined several other prominent Caribbean personalities including former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Lester Bird, former Chief Justice of the OECS Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne, former Speaker of House of Assembly in Jamaica,Delroy Chuck. We thank all these regional personalities for taking a principled stand and for condemning the subversion of democracy in St Kitts and Nevis and the clear disrespect for the constitution and the rule of law by the illegitimate Douglas regime.
Hon Arnhim Eustace is a former Prime Minister and a most able economist who has served the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Ministries of Agriculture, Education and Finance in St Vincent and the Grenadines. HonArnhim Eustace was the youngest to be appointed Permanent Secretary in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In contrast to the principled stand taken by these eminent regional personalities, some of our CARICOM Heads through Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, sought to trivialize the serial breaches in our constitution, and the unprincipled and unprecedented delay in tabling of the Motion of No Confidence to one of “intense political contest” between opposing forces and to take the low partisan road to nowhere in deprecatingTeam Unityfor associating with Hon Arnhim Eustace and his opponents in St.Vincentand the Grenadines who he claimed had lost 3 elections. Truth be told Prime Minister Gonsalves lost at least 3 elections before he won his seat. In deed not only did he failed to get elected as a Member of Parliament but Parties he led lost every election. In contrast Hon Arnhim Eustacehas successfully won every election which he contested as a Member of Parliament for Kingstown East. He is a winner in his own right.
Dr. Gonsalves inappropriate response begs the question, is this a game of upmanship between Dr. Gonsalves and Hon Arnhim Eustace, in which Dr Gonsalves cannot allow HonArnhim Eustace, his nemesis a chance to win? No, this is no game, neither of politics nor of cricket. Thisis a serious matter of the breach in the constitutional order in St. Kitts and Nevis. A breach highlighted in Justice Ramdhani’s landmark judgment of 12 February 2014 in the Motion of No Confidence case. It is clear that Douglas’ right to govern is invalidated because he no longer commands the support of the majority of elected representatives in the Parliament. This is a fundamental breach of the constitution, and of the norms and practices of constitutional parliamentary democracy. It sets a dangerous precedent.
It is this judgment which Prime Minister Gonsalves and his CARICOM Heads ought to have read and paid attention to in their deliberations on St Kitts and Nevis, rather than being concerned about friendships, associations and which Party would gain an upper hand in St Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
It is the Charter of Civil Society of CARICOM to which Prime Minister Gonsalves and his peers ought to have paid attention to, so that they could have properly ventilated the cause of action in St. Kitts and Nevis political and constitution crisis. The statement by Ralph Gonsalves was a vacuous, ill-informed, self-serving one, representing the voice of a dated leadership pandering to a dinosauric club, rather than to revitalizing opportunities to build our democratic institutions as outlined in the Charter of Civil Society.
Prime Minister Gonsalves’ conscience must be on edge, for he knows that contrary to his mouthing, what is happening in St. Kitts and Nevis does not accord with the Charter of Civil Society. The abomination here does not build the ennobling Caribbean civilization, which Prime Minister Gonsalves claims to espouse. Equally in August 2013 Prime Minister Gonsalves in his letter to Hon Arnhim Eustace said he was uncomfortable with situation in St. Kitts & Nevis. Gonsalves wrote that “When a government loses the support of the majority of the elected members of parliament, it has several options, namely (1) to resign and cause fresh General Election to be held: (2) to face a vote of No Confidence in the Legislature in appropriate circumstances, or (3) to act in accordance with any other constitutional directive given by the Head of State (Governor General). These are eternal, core principles of good governance”
The Charter of Civil Society composing some 27 articles,articulates a vision of a peaceful, democratic civil society. One of peace, not of undue turmoil, mayhem, bloodshed and serial breaches of our constitution. The Charter when given a lease of life prevents a replication of the murder and mayhem in Venezuela and the Ukraine.
We need in the Caribbean to build impregnable institutions of governance and democracy. We need to promote the rule of law rather than the convenience of friendship and the rule of man.
We of Team Unity are grateful that Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Mitchell spoke out in principle in contrast to the contrariness of Gonsalves argument, Dr Mitchell said what was happening in St Kitts and Nevis was wrong. It did not accord with the expectations of a democratic society and that what was needed was for the Motion of No Confidence to be tabled and voted on or fresh elections to be held soonest.
The regional publicity given to the St Kitts and Nevis constitutional crisis as a result of Team Unity’s presence in St Vincent, led another Caribbean Leader, Allan Chastanet, Political Leader of the United Workers Party to speak out, again on a point of principle he called for the Motion of No Confidence to be heard and voted on as quickly as possible.Clearly regional leaders are finding their voices. It is evident that the forces of good do not wish for the aberration in St Kitts and Nevis to become the norm in CARICOM.
The longer Douglas takes to call the Motion or fresh elections, the longer he is making our country the laughing stock of the region. The longer he fraudulently holds on to power the longer he keeps the shared prosperity away from our people. Only Team Unity can take our country to a new and higher level of responsible government and good governance. Only Team Unity will reduce taxes, remove VAT from food, medicine and funeral expenses. Only Team Unity will provide free access to preschools.
Team Unity is committed to make St Kitts and Nevis the best small island state in the world. We aim to usher a new chapter of decent and responsible government in St Kitts and Nevis, bereft of the vulgarity, coarseness, brinksmanship and lawlessness of the outgoing regime. Our prosperity agenda will bring decent jobs for all of our people, provide choices for our young, spur local entrepreneurship, incentivize small and medium size businesses, commercialize agriculture, expand manufacturing and restore tourism to its former years of glory.
The people of St. Kitts and Nevis have a choice. We can choose more of the old Douglasand his serial abuses and breaches of law and order, the constitution, and democratic norms,or we can rescue our country.We can give the federation a chance to breathe again. Team Unity promises that decorum and order will be restored to our Parliament.The independence of judiciary will be strengthened.Integrity and accountability will become the cherished values of government and the rule of law, democracy, and our constitution will always guide our actions.
For a better country,Vote Team Unity.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers.
