"The Electoral Reform Consultative Committee (ERCC) will be travelling to St. Maarten, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) this weekend to hold public consultations with a wide cross-section of St. Kitts and Nevis nationals who reside in those islands," the Electoral Reform Secretariat's Press Officer, Ms. Valencia Grant said Friday.

Ms. Grant said that the members of the Electoral Reform Consultative Committee will be split in two groups over the weekend. One group will visit St. Maarten, then Anguilla, and the other will visit the British Virgin Islands.

The consultations in Anguilla and St. Maarten will be chaired by the ERCC Chairman, Mr. Elvis Newton, who is accompanied by Mr. Clive Bacchus, Mr.

Clifford Thomas and Ms. Mutryce Williams.

The sessions in St. Maarten will be conducted at the PMI Hall Building on Back Street on Friday 8th September from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm and on Saturday 9th September from 10 am to 12 noon

In the British Virgin Islands, at Maria's by the Sea on Tortola, public sessions will be held on Friday September 8th from 7:30 pm to 9:30 p.m. and on Sunday 10th September from 5:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.

(left to right)  - Messrs. Elvis Newton, Mutryce Williams, Douglas Wattley, Elvin Bailey, Clement Williams, Clifford Thomas and Clive Bacchus at the first concultation at the Basseterre High School Auditorium on September 4th 2006.

The ERCC team in the British Virgin Islands will be led by Mr. Elvin Bailey, Mr. Douglas Wattley, and Mr. Clement "Bouncin" Williams.

The Electoral Reform Secretariat's Press Officer, Ms. Valencia Grant is accompanying the BVI team.

Nationals living in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom will also be consulted on the issue of electoral reform.

Changes made to the election laws and regulations by the former People's Action Movement (PAM) in 1983 and 1984 without any consultation of the political parties and non-government organisations and residents have been the subject of concerns by local, regional and international institutions.

The governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government of Prime Minister Hon. Dr.

Denzil L. Douglas, which received a mandate through its re-election to a third consecutive term of office, to reform the electoral framework, is confident that through proper consultation with all social groups, political parties, and the general public, it will ensure that these reforms guarantee that future elections in St. Kitts and Nevis continue to be free and fair and in keeping with the democratic and Constitutional rights, these reforms will not disenfranchise any voter as the reforms seek to introduce a modern and efficient electoral system.

The reform is expected to lead to a modernized electoral process with the introduction of a National Registration System, voters ID that will among other things assist citizens in accessing their rights and discharging their responsibilities.

The reform has the backing of the Commonwealth and the CARICOM Secretariats, three of the four political parties with seats in the National Assembly and nationals at home and abroad.

~~Adz:Left~~The St. Kitts Christian Council, the St. Kitts Evangelical Association, the Nevis Evangelical Association, the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union, the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the St. Kitts Teachers Union, the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association, the Department of Youth have representatives on the National Advisory Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee.

The Electoral Reform process also has the support of the independent newspapers, the Leewards Times and Sun St. Kitts/Nevis.