No bad blood between Douglas and Astaphan
Asim Martin to serve as Acting Minister of National Security…
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com
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| Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN the wake of the seemingly unprecedented announcement of Dwyer Astaphan’s resignation as the Minister of National Security at a time when the murder rate is escalating in St. Kitts and Nevis, speculations are rife that bad blood exists between him and Prime Minister Douglas.
This speculation was however addressed by Prime Minister Douglas during his Monthly Press Conference on Wednesday when he said a good relationship exists between himself and Astaphan and also among Astaphan and members of his Cabinet.
“I think it is good! I think it is good when Mr. Astaphan has been a member of my Cabinet and has functioned as a Minister of Government. I think it is a good relationship,” PM Douglas said in response to a question on the working relationship between himself and Astaphan, but on the aspect of bad blood however, he said, “Bad blood...not that I know of.”
Earlier in the week, SKNVibes contacted the Public Relations Officer of Minister Astaphan’s Ministry, who declared that she was unaware of his resignation and it was the first time she had heard of it. Another Government official denied the rumours and, according to the July 8, 2008 edition of the St. Kitts-Nevis Sun newspaper, the official stated that Minister Astaphan was on vacation, would
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| Minister of National Security, Immigration and Labour the Hon. GA Dwyer Astaphan |
resume duties after July 31 and “if he had retired an appropriate announcement would have been made”.
Contrary to the Government official’s denial, Minister Astaphan issued a statement in a four-page press release to media houses in the Federation that he had tendered his resignation with effect from Thursday, July 31, 2008.
The Minster however gave no reason for his decision other than to say, “For some time, I have been engaged in a process of deep and broad reflection and prayer. This has led me in a particular direction.”
Astaphan also stated that he had informed PM Douglas some four months ago that he would stand down as Minister of his Cabinet effective July 31, 2008, which was confirmed by the PM on Wednesday at his Monthly Press Conference.
Dr. Douglas reminded members of the press of the time [1995] when Astaphan unseated the then Prime Minister, Kennedy Simmonds, as the Parliamentary Representative of Constituency Number Two, and stated what Astaphan had indicated to him.
“Minister Astaphan indicated at that time that if he was elected he would serve for two terms, and so he did. Indeed he did go on to win a second term in the 2000 Elections. You would recall in 2004, after responding to the call of his constituents, Minister Astaphan sought a third and final term and he was victorious. It was at that time he indicated that he would not serve out the entire third term. And so in February of this year it was agreed that he would continue to serve as a Member of Parliament for the constituency that he was elected to serve, and also on July 31, 2008 he would demit office as a member of my Cabinet.” ~~Adz:Left~~
He commended Astaphan for the contributions he made to the Labour Party, its Government and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Over the last 13 years, Minister Astaphan has been a tremendous asset not only to the Labour Party but indeed to the entire nation, having served in a number of important ministerial positions in my Government. I believe that his contributions are worthy of the highest accolades.”
Dr. Douglas also announced that he had named the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin to serve as the Acting Minister of National Security, Immigration and Labour in addition to his responsibilities as Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts.
