BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Apr. 6.2018 – THE Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has come in for huge criticisms from the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party over the proposed Amendments to the National Assembly Elections Act.
Under the proposed changes being put forward by the government, among other things, nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis who reside overseas must live in the federation at least six months prior to the registration date, while foreign nationals will have to have continuous residency for at least three years.
The Amendments had its first reading during the recent sitting of the National Assembly, and the opposition, St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is unhappy with the proposals.
Constituency Three’s Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Konris Maynard believes that it is wrong to disenfranchise anyone who previously had the right to vote.
“According to the legislation that has been read a first time, all persons who are not presently residing in St. Kitts and Nevis, would be disenfranchised in the following elections. This is wrong and not in the good spirit of democracy. And so we take a firm stance against that.’
The government has over the years proposed changes to the electoral process, including overseas voters.
Attorney General, Hon. Vincent Byron recently said that they have to consider whether to allow nationals residing overseas to return to St. Kitts and Nevis for one day and then leave the next.
MP Maynard reminded that in times past there were requirements that asked for people to be resident in the federation for six months before registration .
“I do not take anything that this government does at face value. I believe that this is going to be a specific and concerted attempt to disenfranchise only voters who appear to support the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, “ Maynard contends.
According to the MP, the Legislation has been read in parliament for a first time which indicates that it has already been printed on paper, thus paving the way for the government return to parliament to read the amendments and have them passed.
He reminded that in 2008, the then Labour government went out into the communities to educate the people about the proposed electoral changes that were to come on stream.
“But also, to engage them and gather their input on how the electoral system should be reformed.”
The MP believes that such an amendment should be brought to the public, so that the government can have the people voice their opinion on the changes.
“Because of the nature of such an amendment, it would make common sense that a government would want to ascertain that they have the support of the people in doing so. So, I feel that the government feels that if they go along that route, one, they don’t have enough time before the next elections, and two, they don’t believe that they are going to get the majority of support; that if you tell someone like a sister who is overseas studying or a brother who has taken up temporary employment in a neighbouring country that they can’t vote.”
