BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A new Speaker would be nominated when the next sitting of the Federal Parliament convenes, according to Prime Minister of the Federation Dr. the Hon. Timothy S. Harris.
Dr. Harris provided this information today (May 30) during his monthly press conference held in the Parliamentary Lounge at Government Headquarters.
During the second week of May 2016, SKNVibes understood that the then Speaker of the House, the Hon. Franklyn Brand, had tendered his resignation from that position. Not only was it later confirmed by the government but it was revealed that Brand had resigned since the end of the previous month.
Heath issues were stated as the reason for his resignation.
He was nominated to the position on May 14, 2015 when the Parliament had first convened after the new Team Unity Government was sworn into office in February of that year.
During his opening statement this morning, Dr. Harris explained that in addition to a new Speaker being nominated next month, a resolution would be moved cataloguing appreciation for Brand’s work as Head of the august body.
“…The Parliament will convene towards the end of June 2016 and a new Speaker will be nominated. I want again to record our thanks to the former Speaker, Mr. Franklyn Brand, and by extension his family.
“And we will move a resolution in the next sitting of Parliament recording our deep appreciation for his vision of a functional parliament; doing the people’s business with decorum, with class and efficiency. The Parliament, on that occasion, will debate several bills and some will be introduced and read for the first time.”
While a tight lid appears to have been placed on information relative to who the nominee would be, SKNVibes received unconfirmed reports suggesting that a female is or was among those being considered.
