BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (SKNLPCU) – Deputy Speaker of the St Kitts and Nevis National Assembly Hon Michael Perkins seems to be part of a plot to stifle the input of the opposition parliamentarians in the lawmaking body.
This is the view of Member of Parliament for Central Basseterre and Chairperson of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Hon Marcella Liburd during Wednesday’s edition of the popular “Issues” programme on Freedom 106.5 FM.
Describing last Tuesday’s parliamentary session as a “travesty,” the two-term MP and former Speaker first pointed to the debate of the 2016 Budget last December.
“When I got up to speak but sat down for (Eugene) Hamilton, Leader of Government Business to speak, Hamilton goes on to adjourn the House at that particular point and time and when I protested, the Speaker said he caught Hamilton’s eye first and I was standing up before Hamilton,” she said. Perkins, a government appointed senator was in the chair in the absence of the Speaker Hon Franklin Brand.
Ms Liburd said the same treatment was given to Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon Dr Denzil L. Douglas during Tuesday’s parliamentary session.
“Dr Douglas wanted to contribute to the debate yesterday (Tuesday) and Hamilton jumped up right after (Ian) Patches finished and even though Dr Douglas was indicating that he wanted to speak, the Deputy Speaker said he caught Hamilton eye first. He will always catch their eyes first. Is he there to catch people’s eyes or is he there to promote democracy to ensure that all is well?”
She accused the Deputy Speaker of aligning with the members on the government “to crowd out Douglas and who seem to be part and parcel of a plot to stifle democracy in the House here in St Kitts and Nevis.”
“That is something which we must guard against,” she told listeners.
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