BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOLLOWING the Prime Minister’s announcement that he had written to the Governor-General to relieve six of the nine elected individuals of their Ministerial portfolios, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Brantley has spoken out on what he termed a travesty by a man “who has lost legitimacy as Prime Minister”.
Brantley, who is the Premier of Nevis and the incumbent Elected Representative for Constituency Nine, wrote in part on his social media page: “I am sad to report that for the first time in my life I have been fired. I would laugh if this wasn’t so serious.”
“I have not been fired for lack of performance because many locally and regionally have said that my performance as Foreign Minister has been exceptional. No, I and my colleagues have been fired because we decided that we will stand up for principle and for what is right. We have been fired because we decided we shall stand up for our country and for a better future for our people. We decided that Team Unity was, is and will always be more than just one man’s greed and insatiable appetite for power and self aggrandizement.”
In a national address today (May 10), Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris announced that he wrote to the Governor-General recommending that the portfolios of six elected Ministersbe be rescinded and Parliament be dissolved.
That came after the elected Representative wrote to the GG indicating that the Prime Minister does not enjoy the support of the majority of the elected Representatives of Cabinet.
Brantley, who posted his letter from the GG indicating that his portfolios have been rescinded, noted: “It must be a travesty that a man who has lost legitimacy as Prime Minister having lost the support of 73% of the elected members of Parliament will now purport to fire elected members for whom the people voted overwhelmingly.”
Since the announcement by Dr. Harris this afternoon, many have taken to social media and on the streets to voice their dismay while others were happy with the position taken.
Now the campaign will begin to form the next government when Dr. Harris, who had 90 days to call elections, announces a date.
In reference to how the decision was made to terminate the Ministers, Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Dr. Terrance Drew wrote: “We are officially a Banana Republic! #WeDeserveBetter.”
