BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE citizens and residents of neighbouring island Anguilla will head eagerly to the polls on February 15, Kittitians and Nevisians are still waiting on Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas to announce an election date.
Anguilla’s Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming revealed the date during a public meeting of his Anguilla United Front (AUF) party on Tuesday (Jan. 5) before he formally dissolved Parliament the following day.
The AUF’s competition will come from the Anguilla United Movement (AUM), headed by Hubert Hughes, and the Brent Davis-led Anguilla Progressive Party. In the 2005 general election, the AUF won five of the seven Parliamentary seats.
Meanwhile, in the Federation, Parliament has been dissolved since December 15. And while the Prime Minister customarily announces an election date at that juncture, Dr. Douglas opted not to because he wanted persons to enjoy the Christmas and Carnival celebrations.
Since then, he has repeatedly teased the electorate when that date will be but announced on Sunday (Jan. 3) that he would finally divulge details by the week’s end. The Constitution mandates that elections must be held at least 90 days after the House’s dissolution, which means that polling can be held no later than March 15.
Noted political scientist Dr. Asyl Warner outlined the procedure normally undertaken by politicians in the process leading up to an election, and expressed dismay at Douglas’ continued refusal to set a date.
“Once Parliament is dissolved, most leaders set the dates for Nomination Day and the election there and then. That is because, in most jurisdictions, there is a time factor. Parliament cannot be dissolved indefinitely.
“Publicly, PM Douglas has not taken any steps towards holding the election. He has gone against the norm, and it poses the question why. In my mind, it is because he is still uncertain and he is hunting and canvassing for votes. The country does not need these types of political shenanigans. It needs a statesman and he is not behaving like one.”
Accusing Douglas of “political brinkmanship”, Warner said that the PM’s support had dwindled as a result of the constant “will he, won’t he”. He added that people were fed-up and just wanted to get the election over with.
“There was a massive rally in June or July and he didn’t ring the bell. On Sunday, there was an extravaganza and he still didn’t do it. Now there are rumours that he may ring the bell tonight,” Warner noted.
“This back and forth is not helping the Prime Minister one bit. People want leaders who can make decisions and stand behind them. Douglas is coming off as indecisive and unsure.”
Dr. Douglas’ ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party meets tonight at Bakers Corner, while opposition the People’s Action Movement will be in the Green Tree Housing Project area for its first public meeting of 2010.
