BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis has signaled his intention to file an injunction to prevent the upcoming General Elections from being called on the existing constituency boundaries alignment.
During yesterday’s (Oct. 28) edition of ‘Ask the Prime Minister’, one caller who identified himself as retired Major Leroy Percival, informed Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas of his decision.
“I am aware you have been doing your best to adhere to the Constitution and the directive of the international election observers who said the boundaries are illegal and need adjusting. However, the political desperadoes feel they can influence or got influence in the court so they will continue to abuse the court system."
The retired Defence Force Major continued, “I (am) serving notice…that I have started the process to take out an injunction against the Federal Government that there will be no election without the boundary changes. The Constitution must be adhered to and we will find out sooner rather than later if the Court respects the Constitution or those who continue to abuse the courts.”
In response Dr. Douglas reiterated the need for the boundaries to be realigned based on the constitutional requirement and also on the advice of the election observers who were in the Federation when the last General Elections were held.
“As we continue to prepare our country for the elections, again we are saying to the Opposition that the boundaries need to be readjusted and to be realigned as has been the call of our international and regional observers in the last three elections here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The Commonwealth observer team, those from CARICOM, those local organizations that have been looking at the elections, those from the OAS who have been here, they have said to us that the boundaries need to be realigned because the constituencies as they are, are unconstitutional.”
He also explained the reasons for and importance of readjusting the boundaries.
“The constituencies must have near equal as possible the number of residents as has been outlined in the Constitution. It is unfair for us not to practice one man one vote here in St. Kitts and Nevis in a democracy that has been so well-established over the years. It is unfair for one member of Parliament, elected, has to serve the interest of 9,000 residents when his counterpart collecting the same salary, sitting on the same bench or across from him on another bench, is being tasked with the responsibility of only looking after the affairs of 2,000 or 3,000.
“It is unfair, it is wrong, it is unconstitutional. It needs constitutional adjustment because it is unconstitutionally wrong. Every time the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government has sought to adjust the boundaries and make good of what has been outlined in the Constitution, it has been frustrated by the Opposition.”
The Constituency Boundaries Commission’s report of September 2013 was challenged in Court by the Parliamentary Opposition and the then Resident Judge, Justice Darshan Ramdhani deemed it null, void and of no effect. He also ordered that the Prime Minister and the Governor General are prohibited from making use of the same report.
Since that judgment was handed down, SKNVibes understands, the Boundaries Commission has been meeting to discuss possible changes to the constituency boundaries of St. Kitts and Nevis.
