BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has written to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court asking for an earlier date to be set for the hearing of the Opposition’s substantive injunction case.
The case is scheduled to be heard on February 9, 2015, three days after Nomination Day. And according to Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Douglas, who addressed the nation via television and radio this afternoon (Jan. 30), having the case heard at that time would cause “administrative complications”.
“What is of some concern however is the fact that the date of the proposed hearing is February 9, 2015 when, as you are aware, Nomination Day in St. Kitts and Nevis had already been scheduled for February 6, 2015. We have therefore written to the Appeal Court seeking their indulgence in ensuring that the date of the hearing is moved forward so as to avoid the administrative complications that would ensue were the Appeal Court hearing to take place on the 9th February after Nomination Day of the 6th February had come and gone.”
The case stems from the events of January 16, 2015 when the final report of the Constituency Boundaries Commission, despite robust disapproval by the Opposition, was laid before and sanctioned by the Federal Parliament, signed by the Governor-General, gazetted, and published.
The Opposition applied for an injunction to prevent the process on the same day, but it was granted after the process had ended. However, they challenged that a part of the process was not properly executed, but the High Court did not concur with their view and the injunction was discharged.
The Opposition went to the Appellate Court and secured an interim injunction, which remains in effect until the substantive matter is disposed of.
Prime Minister Douglas informed the nation that he had met with key players in the electoral process and had informed them of the interim injunction.
“I come before you this afternoon my fellow residents and citizens to informs the nation that I met this morning with His Excellency the Governor-General. I also met with the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections to officially advise them that, in response to the Opposition’s decision to appeal the Jan 27, 2015 High Court ruling, the Appeal Court has asked that the new and only existing boundaries not be used until the hearing of the Appeal Court has been completed…”
The Political Leader of the country indicated that the country is ready for elections but the Opposition is not and has sought to employ stalling tactics to buy themselves time. He expressed however that the Appellate Court would rule in the Government’s favour.
“My Government and party, we are ready for elections, the country is ready for elections, the people they are ready for elections. The opposition however clearly is not ready! And so they are determined to employ any and all tactics that would enable them to delay the elections and, in fact, to buy time; and of this, there is no doubt…
“Committed as always to do what is necessary to ensure the smooth running of this country and confident that the Appeal Court will at the end of the day rule in our favour, my Government has absolutely no difficulty whatsoever awaiting the ruling of the Appeal Court.”
Election Day is scheduled for Monday, February 16, 2015.
