PM Douglas moves ahead with boundary changes

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas laid out the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission in Parliament yesterday (July 8), setting the stage for a showdown between his governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM).

It had been widely speculated that the Commission’s report would include changes to existing electoral boundaries within the Federation. The issue has drawn much ire from PAM officials, who asserted general elections were too close (constitutionally due in less than a year) for boundaries to be altered.

Discussion on the changes intensified over the past week as PAM filed an injunction to prevent the report’s dissemination and consideration in the National Assembly. The ruling was upheld yesterday in the High Court despite a challenge by the SKNLP.

In an unforeseen move, Douglas circulated the report during an emergency session of Parliament shortly after the injunction was upheld. He informed that the proper procedures and processes had been followed and, as a result, a resolution to implement the changes outlined by the Commission’s report would be introduced.

“This report has been circulated to me and His Excellency the Governor-General by the Commission. I further discharge my duties as Prime Minister, given to me under the Constitution, to do exactly what is required of me with regard to this report. And so, I have had prepared a draft proclamation which will also be laid before this Honourable House,” he stated.

“The draft proclamation will become the instrument of His Excellency the Governor-General. With its discussion, debate and eventual adoption by this Honourable House, the proclamation would have the effect of changing the boundaries in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The Prime Minister then outlined the proposed boundary revisions and noted that although changes were only recommended for Constituencies in St. Kitts, he would use his authority to suggest a closer look at the Nevisian boundaries.

The changes are as follows: the community of Half Moon Bay would be moved from Constituency Eight to Constituency One, while the Greenlands area would secede from Constituency Two to Constituency Three. Meanwhile, Constituency Three would lose the villages of Trinity, Boyds and West Farm to Constituency Four. 

Constituency Five would now comprise of Halfway Tree and Sandy Point, with Constituency Seven shifted to include Ottley’s Village, Little Italy, Ottley’s Housing Development and a section of Upper Cayon. 

The only Constituency to remain untouched was Constituency Six (Newton Ground to Harris’ Village).

Calling the report “a thorough piece of work”, Douglas requested that the House stand adjourned immediately to prevent any further discussion on the matter at that time. He attributed the decision to the lack of opposition members present, as only Deputy Speaker Hon. Patrice Nisbett was in attendance for the emergency session.

SKNVibes contacted PAM Deputy Leader Hon. Shawn Richards, who said that while he was not sure of his party’s next step, he was certain they would challenge Douglas’ actions.

“This is a defence of the democracy of this nation. The injunction we were granted prevents Douglas from doing exactly what he did in Parliament yesterday. He is not above the law of this land. He has gone against the order of the court and our lawyers will seek to remedy the situation,” said Richards.

Up to press time, it was unclear what measures had been taken by PAM. Parliament is set to resume today (July 9) at 10 a.m.