BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DRAWING loud and constant applauses, the Hon. Mark Brantley, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis, said that politicians in the OECS must commit themselves to free and fair elections if they want election petitions to end.
Brantley was at the time speaking on behalf of his fellow Opposition Leaders at the Inauguration of the OECS Assembly held in St. John’s, Antigua on Friday, August 10, 2012.
“For my part, I will say that the way to stop election petitions is to commit ourselves to free and fair elections; to open up the State-owned media to Opposition and Government alike; to appoint to constitutionally sensitive electoral positions persons of acceptable character and reputation; to vigilantly guard against any hint of corruption in the electoral process; to avoid gerrymandering and the ‘fixing’ of electoral boundaries to favour one party or the other. In short, we must commit ourselves to strengthening our democratic traditions which makes us all strong at home and even stronger regionally.
“In this regard, the OECS has a critical role to play. It is no longer sufficient for the OECS to treat this matter or that as a domestic matter for the individual state or territory. The OECS must recognise and accept that in fulfilling its mandate of creating a better region for our people, it cannot turn a blind eye to domestic issues which threaten the capacity of individual member states or territories to play their full role as equal partners in the integration journey.”
He is of the view that election petitions prolong electioneering well beyond the election cycle with its attendant debilitating effect on the psyche of the Eastern Caribbean people.
Brantley also made reference to the political situation in Dominica, noting that he is aware that the Opposition in that island views this matter so seriously that it has sought the intervention of CARICOM.
“I am equally aware that a sitting Prime Minister in the Eastern Caribbean has suggested that something be done to stop such election petitions or otherwise limit them,” he added.
Noting the Opposition Leaders’ gratitude for being allowed to participate in discussions at that august body, Brantley said, “That the Parliamentary Opposition in the OECS region has been given a voice in this Assembly is a welcomed development. It was on Friday, May 4th, 2012 that Leaders and other members of the Parliamentary Opposition in OECS Member States were invited to assemble in St. Lucia to discuss issues relating to the implementation and operation of the OECS Economic Union.
“That meeting was historic as for far too long the regional integration process has proceeded without the input and often without the knowledge of the Parliamentary Opposition. That lack of knowledge has often led to mistrust, misinformation and misguided hostility to the regional integration process. It was perhaps fortuitous that Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia was then Chairman of the OECS and chaired that meeting in St. Lucia. Having himself just left the cold wilderness of Opposition in St. Lucia, he was perhaps best placed to usher into being a new paradigm of inclusion rather than exclusion.”
He also voiced the Opposition Leaders’ appreciation of the OECS’ decision of meeting with them on an annual basis.
“I am advised that the OECS wishes to have a meeting with Leaders of the parliamentary opposition on an annual basis and I and my colleagues in Opposition welcome that new thrust. The peoples of our region must understand that those of us who find ourselves temporarily in Opposition are and must be equal partners in the deepening and strengthening of our integration process. We represent people and those whom we represent should not be left at the door of regionalism looking in wondering what is going on. The OECS is our OECS and we must stand Government and Opposition alike shoulder to shoulder to advance the cause of regionalism.”
Brantley pointed out that the OECS Assembly is but one of five principal organs established by the Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing the OECS Economic Union, and that there are eight specific areas for which the Revised Treaty allows the OECS to develop legislation.
“The areas,” he said, “are the common market, monetary policy, trade policy, maritime jurisdiction and boundaries, civil aviation, commercial policy, environmental policy and immigration policy. These areas are critical in advancing and deepening the process of integration, and therefore it is important for us as OECS parliamentarians to have a common forum to discuss and debate issues.”
The OECS Assembly was launched as a major step towards its efforts to fully establish an Economic Union and deepen its sub-regional integration movement.
The Hon. Rene Baptiste of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was elected the Assembly’s first Speaker and the former Speaker of St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, His Excellency Walford Gumbs, was elected her Deputy.
