Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 21, 2016 (SKNIS): Notice has been given and the Order Paper circulated for a sitting of the National Assembly to be held at the National Assembly Chambers at Government Headquarters on Wednesday 23rd March, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
The National Assembly will be carried live on ZIZ Radio (96 FM) and Television (Channel 5) and participating stations. You can also log on to ZIZonline.com.
Three Bills will be introduced and read a first time and one Bill will have its second reading.
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Finance, Sustainable Development, National Security and People’s Empowerment will seek leave to introduce and have read a first time The Tax Administration and Procedures (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Eastern Caribbean Asset Management Corporation and The National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Also, The Honourable Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris will move the second reading of The National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
At his monthly press conference on March 15, Prime Minister Harris said that the Government of National Unity intends to strike down an amendment to the Electoral Act that allows for law enforcement and essential services officers to cast their votes early before the actual day of general elections.
Prime Minister Harris said that Parliament will convene on March 23, 2015 and “among the matters to be brought before Parliament will be one to renounce and make inapplicable, null and void and of no effect the infamous “Early Voting of Security Forces and Persons who Perform Essential Services (Procedure) Regulations “SR&O No. 10 of 2015” Published February 05, 2015.”
He explained that “given the size of our electorate in general, the size of the electorate, in particular that was to be given to the opportunity to vote early, there is no demand for early voting,” adding that the legislation “represents a callous waste of time of the electoral officials, places an unnecessary burden on our security forces and adds an unnecessary burden to a fragile, pressurized and politicized electoral system. Some polling stations reported no voters.”
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