BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MEMBERS of the Federal Parliament are optimistic about the newest term in the life of the legislative body, which reconvened yesterday (Mar. 10) following the January 25 election.
The government benches comprise Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, his Deputy Hon. Sam Condor, Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin, Hon. Marcella Liburd, Hon. Glenn Phillip, Attorney-General Hon. Patrice Nisbett, and Senators Hon. Nigel Carty and Hon. Richard Skerritt.
The opposition is headed by Hon. Mark Brantley, who is supported by the Hon. Vance Amory, Hon. Shawn Richards, Hon. Eugene Hamilton and the Hon. Vincent Byron.
Yesterday’s opening session was marked by Governor-General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian’s Throne Speech, the return of Hon. Curtis Martin as Speaker and the surprise nomination of Skerritt as Deputy Speaker.
SKNVibes spoke to several Parliamentarians shortly after the House’s first adjournment, including long-time government Ministers Harris and Condor, as well as first-timer Phillip.
“Today was a good day, a first day with all the usual curiosities and great expectations of a new term,” said Harris, the Minister of Agriculture and International Trade, among others.
“The Throne Speech did highlight a number of issues – new developments, support for a national health insurance scheme, our thrust for agriculture and attempts to consolidate the fiscal position paying particular importance to the national debt.”
New Sports Minister Phillip said sitting in the National Assembly was “exciting”, and revealed that his top priorities going forward were the construction of an indoor sports facility and the creation of a plan to reverse the decline in sports participation.
The opposition perspective was also positive, with Leader Brantley stating his pleasure at the House’s formal reconstitution and the peaceful election of the Deputy Speaker.
Meanwhile, Richards, a Parliamentarian since 2004, explained that the opposition would work with the government’s side to achieve the country’s objectives, but they would make their opinion clear when of the view that a more beneficial policy could be advanced.
He revealed that they would be one of the most vigorous opposition benches that the country had ever seen.
“We’re looking at making the Parliamentary Accounts Committee much more active than it has been in the past, so that persons in the public will know much more about what is happening in the corridors of the government,” Richards noted. “We are also looking at the possibility of bringing bills by opposition members to the floor.
“We hope to be more united and to offer a stronger voice for those who feel as though they do not have one in Parliament.”
