BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 28th, 2012 (CUOPM) – “When the Court rules, we, in this Federation of ours, respect the wisdom of the Court. This we have done in the past, and this we shall continue to do. Because it is this respect for each branch, by each branch, one for another, that ensures and guarantees the longevity and the stability of our deeply cherished democracy,” says St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
He was at the time making a statement during his weekly radio programme “:Ask the Prime Minister” on a decision of the Court of Appeal upholding a lower court ruling that the 2011 Nevis Island Assembly election in the District of St. John’s was null and void.
“St. Kitts and Nevis is a solid, stable member of the world community of nations, with a respected tradition of parliamentary democracy. We have three branches of government – the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary – each, in their own way, serving and advancing the public good,” said Dr. Douglas.
He noted election-related matters have been taken to the courts on several occasions, over the years – both in St. Kitts as well as in Nevis.
“And initial rulings have, in various cases, been appealed – again, both in St. Kitts, as well as in Nevis. On matters electoral and non-electoral alike, Kittitians and Nevisians have long exercised their right to take their grievances to the Court,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He added: “And, if ever and whenever the Court has issued a ruling with which those involved were not satisfied, they have always had the right to appeal these rulings. This, nationals have done – time and time again. Indeed, the Federation’s electoral system has, on several occasions, been placed under the scrutiny of the Court, and the charges made by concerned parties found to be without merit.”
“In 2000, for example, three opposition candidates challenged the credibility of the electoral system in St. Kitts. And their charges were ruled by the Court to be without merit. When they lost in the first instance, they decided to appeal the Court’s ruling. The Court again, you will remember, rejected their claims at the Appeal level.
And then, as recently as the 2010 elections, one of these individuals again decided to challenge yet another electoral victory in St. Kitts. Again, the Court found his charges to be without merit, and he lost,” said Dr. Douglas.
“We have an important tradition of parliamentary democracy in St. Kitts and Nevis with three branches of Government, each fulfilling its unique role, each respecting the other. Ours is an independent judiciary in St. Kitts and Nevis, and when it speaks, we listen,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
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