BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has been accused of attempting to prostitute the Federal Parliament so that he could maintain the majority vote in the House.
This accusation came from member of the Opposition Benches, the Hon. Shawn K. Richards, who made specific reference to the (Senators) Bill 2012 which is to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow (Nov. 21).
The Bill will make provision for the doubling of the number of senators in the Parliament; the number currently sits at three (one on the Opposition Benches and two on the Government’s) but once passed it would increase to two on the Opposition Benches and four on the Government’s.
“…this bill is simply about increasing Denzil Douglas’ numbers on the Government Benches and it has nothing to do with the stated objectives. Dr. Douglas is really attempting to prostitute the Parliament to maintain his hold on the majority vote.
“The Bill has absolutely nothing to do with the stated objects and reasons. This Bill is clearly an attempt by Denzil Douglas to strengthen his hand in Parliament. Dr. Douglas has recognised that he now has two ministers of government who have been publicly taking a stand against him. Just recently when we debated the land swap Bill they spoke out against it and so he sees that if there is a division vote, and these two ministers are against him, then he cannot pass any bills in Parliament. Therefore, he is attempting to bring two additional senators onto the Government Benches to strengthen his hand in the event of any such thing occurring in Parliament.”
Richards – who spared no effort in expressing his disagreement with the Bill – counted it as unfair that three senators are being added to the Parliament at an estimated cost of $350 000 per year. He said that sum – however – does not include associated administrative costs.
He suggested that that sum could be better utilised either assisting with whatever repairs are necessary at the Basseterre High School, which is believed to have been affected by some sort of contamination. Richards even suggested that that money could be used to provide jobs for approximately 10 graduates of the College of Further Education.
The facilitation of the appointment of a Deputy Speaker and the addition of resources to assist in handling the rigors of complex government business are two of the three reasons which were forwarded by the government for the Bill.
And while Richards named the issues as “worthy”, he claimed that they “are not the real reason for the Bill and the Prime Minister ought to be honest with the people of this country”.
Richards suggested that a doctor and a lawyer have been earmarked as the two senators who would be appointed if the Bill is passed.
“I understand that one Vance Gilbert who is earmarked to replace Dr. Harris in Constituency Number Seven is supposed to be one of the senators. And I am hearing that a next young man from Constituency Number Three – who is supposed to replace Sam Condor – in the person of Jason Hamilton, is also earmarked as one of the senators.”
