BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AN approximate 500-strong group of people turned up last night (July 9) at a political meeting in Ponds Pasture in support of Dr. the Hon. Asim Martin, as the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is rapidly winding down its campaign for the upcoming General Elections.
In his address to his constituents and supporters of the Labour Party, Dr. Martin said that he had recently celebrated 15 years in Parliament as the Representative of Constituency Number One and none of his predecessors could match what he has done for the residents in East Basseterre.
He reminded those present of the many achievements under the Denzil Douglas-led Administration of which he tremendously contributed, not only within his constituency but also all others throughout St. Kitts.
Martin spoke to the amount of families and young people who have been housed and given land when compared to what was provided by the People’s Action Movement (PAM) during its 15-year tenure. He also reminded that he was instrumental in the negotiations with the Cuban government for students to study in that Spanish-speaking country.
The construction and refurbishment of community and health centres on the island, as well as the providence of a new and bigger medical facility [Pogson Hospital] in Sandy Point were among some of the achievements highlighted by Martin.
Other Constituency Representatives of the Labour Party who took to the podium last night were the Hon. Cedric Liburd, Dr. Norgen Wilson, Glenn ‘Ghost’ Phillip and Marcella Liburd, all of whom categorically stated that they are confident of victory. However, noticeably absent were Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sam Condor and Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, who this media house was told were on government’s business elsewhere.
Apart from Dr. Douglas, whose late entry to the venue sent the massive crowd into towering frenzy, Marcella had had the undivided attention of all present in her explanation of the Injunction filed by the Hon. Shawn Richards of the PAM.
The former Speaker of the National Assembly said that Prime Minister Douglas was not in violation of the law when he tabled the Draft Proclamation in Parliament, its debate and final signing by the Governor-General yesterday afternoon.
“The Prime Minister was exercising his constitutional right pursuant to Section 50(3) of the Constitution, which states that as soon as may be after the Boundaries Commission submitted the Report, the Prime Minister shall lay before the National Assembly for its approval the draft of a Proclamation by the Governor-General for giving effect to that Report…and that is what the Prime Minister did - exercise his constitutional right…he was following the law,” Marcella said.
Marcella stated that the Prime Minister was not among the respondents to the Injunction filed Richards. She explained that the respondents were the Attorney General (AG) and the Constituency Boundaries Commission, but it is the belief of many that by naming the AG the government is bound.
Citing a recent case in the Caribbean which speaks to an issue involving an Attorney General, Marcella said, “I believe that that view is being held because it was thought that what is known as the Crown Proceeding Act would be invoked by naming the Attorney General in the suit.
“Very recently [July 6], there is a case out of St. Lucia involving Richard Frederick against the Comptroller of Customs and the Attorney General of St. Lucia. Our own Court of Appeal ruled that the Crown Proceeding Act does not apply to constitutional cases. And this case that was brought by the People’s Action Movement is a constitutional case, which means that the Crown Proceeding Act does not apply to it. And so, naming the Attorney General here does not mean that it has cause to spill over to affect the government as it would if it were not a constitutional matter.”
She further stated that her understanding of the St. Lucia’s case is that one has to name in the suit, the particular person who one wants to bring the injunction against. In this case, she added, it would have been the Prime Minister, because he is the one authorised under the Constitution to lay the Proclamation in the House of Assembly.
Marcella noted that after the Injunction was brought against the AG, “he did not speak in the House; and that is because he has been named in the Injunction. Therefore, he did not participate in the proceeding”.
With regards to Minister Liburd’s participation in the proceeding, even though he is a member of the other respondent [the Constituency Boundaries Commission], Marcella said that he spoke in the House of Assembly as the Representative of Constituency Eight and not in representation of the Commission.
“Minister Liburd was not carrying out any duties of the Commission at that particular time, he was there as the Parliamentary Representative of Constituency Number Eight. As a matter of fact, the Constitution speaks to the Chairman of the Commission. It is the Chairman who really represents the Commission, unless he passes on the duty to somebody else…and he did not pass it on to Minister Liburd,” she added.
According to protocol, Dr. Douglas was the last speaker of the night and he brought the curtains down with ‘fire’; so much so that the platform upon which he stood was engulfed with the flames of the scores of red-shirted supporters who surrounded him.
He also reiterated his Administration’s achievements and promised, not only the Labour Party’s supporters but all those who do not have their own homes, that land would be made available to them at a very minimal cost and under the easiest of terms of payment.
“The land belongs to you and we have enough land in this country for every single adult to have 4 000 square feet. The land is now being sold to you for $2.95 per square foot. And this thing about paying down 20 percent…that has gone through the window. We are saying to you that all you have to deposit is $100 EC not US. After that has been paid, you can take another two years before you start to pay anything more on the land.
“The land belongs to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, and after you have paid down the $100 you will have to pay a few hundred dollars to have the land surveyed. Then the Inland revenue Department will charge you about $700 for the Transport Tax, after which you will have the title in your hand,” Douglas told the seemingly happy and vociferous crowd.
Douglas told the crowd he has confirmed information that “if Lindsay Grant was to get into power, his father, Daddy Grant, will become Senator for land here in St. Kitts and Nevis. And that is why I warn our people, our policies are progressive for the empowerment of our young people”.
Douglas said that his government welcomes Caribbean nationals to the Federation with open arms.
“We have transformed our national economy from sugar to services, and we have an open policy inviting all who have skills to work with us to advance St. Kitts and Nevis for the better. That is why we welcome our brothers and sisters from around the Caribbean region. We don’t have enough skills…we want people who have skills; and that is why we have a progressive immigration policy in this country.
“We are not doing like other countries. We are not going into people’s houses in the dead of night, hold guns to their heads and deport them the next morning. We are not doing that! We want this country to be a country that all who are Caribbean people are welcomed. Because, as brothers and sisters of one Caribbean nation, we need your services, we need your skills, we need your investment dollars, so too we welcome you to come and live among us.”
From this backdrop, Douglas urged the youths to take advantage of all opportunities presented them by the Labour Party Administration in an effort to qualify, certify and equip themselves with the necessary marketable skills required for personal and national development.
