BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 13th 2011 (CUOPM) – The Concerned Citizens Movement -People’s Action Movement (CCM-PAM) coalition opposition has been accused of giving lip service to the fight against crime.
Four of the five opposition parliamentarians, including the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mark Brantley, did not show up last week Tuesday for the continuation of the session of the lawmaking body which had begun the Thursday before and were not present to participate in another bill on crime, a situation which had dawn comments not only from Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, but also Speaker Hon. Curtis Martin.
During his weekly radio call-in programme on Tuesday, Prime Minister Douglas said despite the opposition co-operation and support for an earlier legislative measure, their stunning absence when the National Assembly resumed was telling.
“When one seeks elected office, they should do so not simply to be called, ‘The Honorable.’ And they should do so not to achieve some type of status or standing in society. When one seeks elected office, one should do so because they are ready and willing to undertake the hard work that being an elected official entails. And one of the most important responsibilities of an elected official, revolves around preparing oneself for the issues to be debated in parliament,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said analyzing the proposed legislation, making suggestions as to how it might be improved and warning of ways in which it may be going too far – or not going far enough and most importantly, being an elected official, by definition, necessitates actually showing up in parliament.
“Spending considerable time on one’s feet, explaining oneself to one’s colleagues, presenting one’s views to the public, demonstrating to the nation why the path that one is advocating serves the best interests of the nation and why the path that one is opposing does not. This is what you, the voters, sent every single elected official to parliament to do,” said Dr. Douglas, adding:
“This is why you stand in those lines for so long, every five years, to choose persons on whom you think you can count to show up in Parliament and protect you interests, to show up in parliament and work!”
He noted that from time to time there will, of course, be absences from parliament due to travel and illness and there is simply an inescapable fact that from time to time, circumstances beyond one’s control may make it impossible for a parliament to be present.
Dr. Douglas admitted that he was a bit disheartened at the absence of the opposition members when Parliament resumed debating the important issue of crime.
“I expected to see a much-needed show of bi-, or indeed multi-, partisan passion and involvement. Instead all I saw was one empty seat after another, over in the opposition benches. When the debate first started a week before, there were many lofty words and pledges of cooperation,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
“However, when the time came to really grapple with the measure on the floor, to decide exactly what we would and would not do, when the time came to vote, to let our voices be heard, and our views be in the open for all to see, there was no-one on the opposition benches to take a stand – one way or the other – with the possible exception of the Member from Number 5 (Hon. Shawn Richards),” said the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister.
He said despite the absence of the opposition, the work of the legislative arm of the Government must go on regardless.
“And so that is exactly what we did – we pushed forward – because in this country we have started a very important conversation. And it is a conversation that is key. Essential. Inescapable – if we are to clean our society of gangs, waywardness, lawlessness, if we are to dramatically reduce the appeal of crime and criminality. If we are, through our own imagination, and strivings, and hard work, to recapture the solid values and standards that once set the Caribbean islands apart,” said Dr. Douglas during the one-hour programme syndicated simultaneously on Nevis Choice FM, Radio One, Freedom FM, ZIZ, KYSS FM and ZIZ.
The opposition members participated in the debate on The Criminal Law Amendment (Amendment) Bill, 2011 on Thursday April 28th, but were absent for the debate on The Small Charges (Amendment) Bill, 2011; The Island Enhancement Fund (Amendment) Bill 2011 and The Saint Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2011 on Tuesday May 3rd 2011.
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