BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MEMBERS of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament have come in for serious criticism for not fully executing their responsibility in registering their vote against the recently-passed bill which vested 1 200 acres of land in the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank for the settlement of debt.
Last Friday the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (Vesting of Certain Lands) Bill 2012 was moved by the Minister of Finance, Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, which provides for the vesting of some 1 200 acres of land to effect some reduction in the Federation’s enormous debt.
At about 11:00 p.m. that day – following strong opposition from the members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and also from Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sam T. Condor and Senior Minister Dr. Timothy S. Harris, the bill was passed into law.
None of the members of the Opposition with voting privileges was present in the House when votes were cast as to whether or not the bill was to be made law. Both Condor and Harris were also absent at that time.
Historian and social commentator Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald – in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes - expressed his overwhelming disappointment in the Opposition Members for failing to be present at the time of voting.
“I think the Opposition should have remained - or come back in time even if they had to leave – to register their vote against the bill, because an important bill such as that should not have gone through three readings at one time. The public should have had some time to digest it after the first reading.”
According to Archibald, he is privy to some schools of thought which lay blame at the feet of Condor and Harris; ideologies with which he does not agree. He argues that in disagreeing with the bill, both men did what was in their power to do and to have actually registered a vote against the bill would have meant – in essence – that they were crossing the floor.
He reiterated that vested in the Opposition is the responsibility to vote against any bill with which it is not in agreement. And as such, the Opposition failed to fully execute its duty with regard to the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (Vesting of Certain Lands) Bill 2012.
“You would understand that for them (Condor and Harris) to vote against the bill would have taken a lot of gumption; they would have had to resign immediately from the government. They would have actually been crossing the floor to do a thing like that. I believe the time will come for them when they will have to do that, but it was a great step they took to actually speak out against the bill. However, the Opposition should have done their part, not leave it to Tim and Sam. The Opposition should have done their part and stayed in the House and vote when the time came to vote so the country could see them registering their vote against a measure which is very unpopular throughout the country.
“That is the job of the Opposition. It wasn’t the job of Tim and Sam to oppose a bill that the government was presenting. They did that and we are happy that they did it, but that is not their job. It is the job of the Opposition to vote against the bill if they think something is wrong with the bill. And the Opposition did not do it and everybody is looking at Sam and Tim and blaming them. How could you blame them and the Opposition did not do its part?”
The teacher admitted that it is possible that the bill would have still been passed even if the Opposition members were present to register their divergent vote. But that, he said, was no reason for them to shirk their responsibility.
“I am sorry that they didn’t stay to vote against the bill...”
