BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) is not impressed by the infighting within the Coalition Government and, its Leader, Dr. Terrance Drew has expressed concern and dismay at the current political state of play in the Federation.
Over the last four weeks, two of the three political leaders of the Team Unity Administration have been vocal over the growing challenges within the Government, and have they have laid the blame squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris and his handling of the situation.
Leader of the People’s Action Movement, Shawn Richards and Leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement, Mark Brantley have, following two failed meetings, blamed Dr. Harris for failing to compromise and accept their recommendations on the way forward.
The longstanding political wrangling between the warring factions of the Team Unity construct has been exposed, laid bare and put on display for all to see.
“The current tension in the political sphere has spilled over into the public square and has led to heightened anxiety, anger and uncertainty that has brought our great Federation to a tipping point that if not arrested soon will completely destabilise our country,” Dr. Drew said.
In his national address, the SKNLP Leader stated: “Political instability leads to economic instability; a scenario that cannot be countenanced as already our small-island nation is reeling from the impact of a global pandemic, and the fallout of war in Europe and trade and supply-chain disruptions.”
The infighting has reached fever pitch with six of the nine elected members wrote to the Governor General, indicating that the Prime Minister does not command the majority of the Cabinet, with the threat of a Motion of No Confidence and possible resignation of members all being on the table.
But Dr. Drew is of the view that the three parties are at “an impasse with no clear expression of a decision to dissolve or resolve” their current issues.
The two parties are seeking to have the Prime Minister removed from his post and that was indicated in their letter to the Governor General, who has since sought legal advice on the way forward.
“The mere suggestion that the process for the removal of the Prime Minister can be triggered simply by a letter from the majority of elected members stating that they do not or no longer support the Prime Minister, is spurious at best and at worst utterly mischievous and intentionally misleading.
“The closest scenario to the present situation that is entertained in the Constitution is laid out in Subsection 7 of Section 52 which allows for the removal of the Prime Minister, if and only if, it happens before the first sitting of Parliament after the appointment arising from a General Elections,” Dr. Drew added.
Citizens and residents in the Federation, and those across the region and on the international scene are anxiously awaiting the Governor General’s response to the letter and the way forward.
And while the nation waits with bated breath, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has called for swift action for the country to return to “a state of stability”.
