Under PAM, the constituencies were increased and the boundaries changed in 75 minutes in 1983

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 24TH 2009 (CUOPM) – When the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC) met in June 1983, the number of constituencies was increased and the boundaries changed in just 75 minutes without any public consultation.
 
According to a front page story in the Labour Spokesman of 2nd July 1983, the Constituency Boundaries Commission met under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Herman Liburd. The other members were the Hon. Michael Powell and the Hon. Ivor Stevens appointed by the Premier, Hon. Dr. Kennedy Simmonds and the Hon. Lee L. Moore and the Hon. E. St. John Payne, appointed by Mr. Moore in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition.
 
The PAM/NRP Government of Dr. Simmonds recommended that the number of constituencies should be increased from nine to eleven as follows St. Christopher 1 (East Basseterre, 5,152 population); St. Christopher 2 (Central Basseterre, 7,262 population); St. Christopher 3 (West Basseterre 2,668 population); St. Christopher 4 (Challengers/Half Way Tree, 3,064 population); St. Christopher 5 (Sandy Point/Fig Tree 3,360 population); St. Christopher 6 (Newton Ground/Saddlers, 4,887 population); St. Christopher 7 Tabernacle/Ottley’s, 2,872 population); St. Christopher 8 (Cayon/St. Peters 5,839 population); Nevis 9 (St. Paul/St John, population 3,489); Nevis 10 (St. Thomas/St. James – 3,521 population) and Nevis 11 (St. George, 2,290 population).
 
The Paper reported that when the government’s recommendations were to be decided upon, the Opposition nominees abstained from voting, but the Speaker of the National Assembly voted with the government nominees.
 
The meeting of the Commission which started at 10 A.M. lasted for about an hour during which the constituencies in St. Kitts were increased from 7 to 8 and from two to three in Nevis and the boundaries changed.
 
At 1.P.M. Mr. Moore and Mr. Payne were each handed their appointments as members of the Constituency Boundaries Commission set up under paragraph 4 of the St. Christopher and Nevis Constitution.
 
That Commission considered the boundaries for the electoral districts into which the Island of Nevis should be divided for the election to the Nevis Island Assembly. The Government nominees recommended that the Island of Nevis should be divided into five districts on the basis of one district for each of the five Parishes.
 
The Paper reported that the opposition nominees again abstained from the voting and the Speaker again voted with the government nominees to provide a majority vote.
 
The Spokesman said the afternoon session during which the boundaries in Nevis were increased and boundaries changed lasted about 15 minutes.