BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 22ND 2009 (CUOPM) – The previous Constituency Boundaries Commission established when the People’s Action Movement (PAM) Government of Prime Minister Dr. the Right Hon. Kennedy Simmonds was in office, increased the number of constituencies and changed the boundaries in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly for the 1984 General Election and increased and changed the constituency boundaries in Nevis for the Nevis Island Assembly elections in 75 minutes.
The first meeting under the chairmanship of the Speaker, the Hon. Ivan Buchanan during the morning session lasting just under one hour, increased the number of constituency boundaries on St. Kitts and Nevis from 9 to 11 - from seven to eight and on St. Kitts and from two to three in Nevis.
The second meeting lasting 15 minutes in the afternoon of the same day, the Constituency Boundaries Commission increased and changed the boundaries in Nevis for Nevis Island Assembly elections from three to five, representing the five parishes. It must e noted that the Labour members received ther instruments of appointment just prior to the second meeting.
The two members appointed by the then Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Lee L. Moore abstained from the voting during both sessions and the Chairman (the Speaker, Hon. Ivan Buchanan), voted with the nominees of Dr. Kennedy Simmonds to provide a majority vote of three.
The two members appointed by Dr. Simmonds were the Hon. Michael Powell and the Hon. Ivor Stevens. Besides, Mr. Moore, the other opposition appointee was the Hon. E. St. John Payne.
For the information of the general public, CUOPM submits the report on the meetings as published in the Labour Spokesman:
"On Wednesday of this week, a meeting of the Constituency Boundaries Commission for the State was convened at the Cabinet Chambers, Government Headquarters, Basseterre, St. Kitts. There were 5 persons present: the Speaker of the House Assembly (ex officio Chairman of the Commission), Hon. Michael Powell and Hon. Ivor Stevens (nominated by the Premier), and Hon. Lee Moore and Hon. E. St.John Payne (nominated by the Leader of the Opposition).
The Commission considered the number and boundaries of constituencies for the State.
The nominees of the Simmonds Government recommended that the number of constituencies should be increased from nine (9) to eleven (11) in the following way:
St.Christopher 1--- East Basseterre …………5,152 population
St. Christopher2 --- Central Basseterre……7,263 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/Ottleys….. 2,872 population
St. Christopher 8--- Cayon/St. Peters…..5,839 population
Nevis 9 --- St. Paul/St. John……3,489 population
Nevis 10 --- St. Thomas/St. James….3,521 population
Nevis 11---St. George…..2,290 population
When the government’s recommendations were to be decided upon, the Opposition nominees abstained from voting but the Speaker voted with the government’s nominees, thereby providing the recommendations with a majority vote.
The next stage is for a report from the Commission to be submitted to His Excellency the Governor.
After that, according to section 48 of the Constitution the recommendations must be put before a meeting of the House of Assembly by the Premier, who may propose changes to the recommendations.
If the House of Assembly approves of the recommendations, with or without the changes proposed by the Premier, the Governor then makes an Order which brings the decision of the House into effects as soon as the House of Assembly is dissolved.
The meeting of the Commission started just after 10:00 am and lasted for about one hour. It then adjourned to 1:00 pm that same day.
At 1:00pm, Hon. Lee Moore and Hon. E. St. john Payne were each handed a document signed by His Excellency the Governor appointing them members of the Constituency Boundaries Commission set up under paragraph 4 of the St.Christopher and Nevis Constitution Order 1983.
The Commission considered the boundaries for the electoral districts into which the island of Nevis should be divided for the election of the Nevis Island Assembly.
The government nominees recommended that the island of Nevis should be divided into five (5) districts for each of the 5 parishes.
The Opposition nominees again abstained from voting and the Speaker again voted with the Government nominees to provide a majority vote."
