BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MEMBERS of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition were a no show today (May 14) at the Parliamentary Chambers at Government Headquarters for the Ceremonial Opening of the Parliament, being the first sitting since the Team Unity Government took office.
The National Assembly in St. Kitts and Nevis convened for the first time since the February 16 General Elections with one side of the House absent, citing "a number of very troubling developments of recent origin in our beautiful Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
In a statement released to the media before Parliament convened, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party indicated three major issues as to why Members of Opposition had boycott the opening of the National Assembly.
The first issue is what the Opposition claimed to be the “arrogance and height of disrespect which this Government is showing for our Parliamentary traditions”.
The Opposition accused Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and Attorney-General Senator Vincent Byron Jr. of manipulating the circumstances that led to the absence of the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence, from the Ceremonial Opening, thus not being allowed to deliver the Throne Speech.
The second stated issue pertains to the Electoral Office on Central Street, Basseterre, which the Opposition claimed no acceptable explanation was given to the public as to the circumstances that led to its closure.
And the third is in relation to what the Opposition alleged as the “rampant sacking of public servants by this Government without due authority”.
It alleged that over the last three months dozens of ordinary citizens were the subjects of the victimisation, including “top level civil servants such as permanent secretaries and ambassadors down to persons who are working for near minimum wage”.
The Labour Party stated that it is for those reasons Members on the Opposition Benches opted to boycott the historic event.
The Opposition is made up of former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas who is expected to lead that side of the House; former Government Ministers Hon. Marcella Liburd, Hon. Patrice Nisbett and Hon. Nigel Carty who will serve as Senator. And making his debut in the Parliament is the Hon. Konris Maynard.
