Minister Astaphan Proud of Electoral Reform Process
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| Hon. G. A. Dwyer Astaphan (right) told SKNIS’ Director Mahlon Goma (left) that he is proud of the work done for the electoral review process |
Basseterre, St. Kitts (October 18, 2007): It is anticipated that the new guidelines governing electoral laws and procedures will be debated in the Federal Parliament very soon, perhaps as early as next week (October 24) when the law making body convenes.
In the meantime, member of the Parliamentary Constitutional and Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee (PCERBC) Hon. G. A. Dwyer Astaphan said he is proud of the work done for the review process.
The comments were made recently during an interview with SKNIS’ Director Mahlon Goma. Minister Astaphan explained that the mandate of his committee, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor, was to consider the report from the National Advisory Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee. The PCERBC deliberated on the recommendations and made changes and improvements to ensure that future elections in St. Kitts and Nevis continue to be free, fair and in-keeping with a contemporary manifestation of a modern and efficient electoral system.
Other members of the PCERBC included Hon. Dennis Merchant, Hon. Vance Amory, Hon. Patrice Nisbett and Hon. Shawn Richards. Hon. Shawn Richards - who is a member of the opposition People’s Action Movement - did not participate in the meetings which Minister Astaphan described as “unfortunate.”
“You cannot purport to be a serious social partner, more particularly a social partner aspiring to be the government … and justify your non-involvement in the consultative process,” the Minister emphasized. ~~Adz:Right~~
However, Minister Astaphan stressed that the deliberations were thorough and all members made important contributions to the process. The participating members of the PCERBC represent 9 of the 10 seats in the Federal Parliament.
The minister said that the review process has remained transparent throughout, and is symbolic of his government’s commitment to forging partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
“There has been public consultation here (in St. Kitts and Nevis) and abroad,” he noted. “Even after committees completed their work they still reached out to the community and said we will … [consider] late reports from the public. It (the reform exercise) has been transparent.”
Minister Astaphan, who holds Ministerial Responsibility for National Security, noted that the introduction of a modern National Identity Card that will feature critical bio data about citizens and a photograph of the person, will help to protect the integrity of the work done. He added that strict penalties will be legislated to act as a deterrent to persons wishing to illegally duplicate or tamper with the card.
“Once you have ‘teeth’ to the rules and the regulations, people will understand that acting irresponsibly or criminally will have grave consequences and that is something that will be in place,” he revealed.
The Electoral Reform Process, launched in August 2006, has received the blessing of a number of local, regional and international bodies including the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
