BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH the Motion of No Confidence forwarded by the Opposition has yet to be tabled in the Federal Parliament, some individuals view the recent public resistance of the Senators (Increase of Number) Bill, 2012 by two Government Ministers as constituting a motion of no confidence in the government and its leader.
“I believe that the objection of the two Ministers to the Bill is in itself a vote of no confidence in the government. Because they (Ministers Timothy Harris and Sam Condor) have expressed their serious reservations and objections to the Bill, which means…if two of his Ministers come out publicly in a debate in the House and vote against it, it would not have carried,” social activist Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald explained to SKNVibes.
Sometime in December 2012, the Opposition in the House of Parliament forwarded a Motion of No Confidence in the Government and its Leader Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
The Opposition had expressly indicated that it wishes for and that the Motion ought to have been given precedence and should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
However, before the Motion was filed, the Senators (Increase of Number) Bill, 2012 was tabled in Parliament and that sitting was adjourned, continuing Tuesday (Jan. 15), the day both Condor and Harris voiced and expounded on the reasons for their objections.
It is not yet known if or when the tabling of the Motion would be allowed, but Archibald opined that by Ministers Condor and Harris objecting to the Bill, an informal motion of no confidence was filed and brought before the Parliament.
“So, even though the actual vote of No Confidence was not tabled, the failure of that Bill amounts to the same thing. Once that Bill fails, the follow-up must be the tabling of the Motion of No Confidence. There was no way they could have avoided doing that.
“The Bill has not yet failed, but the fabric of the Bill, the whole context of the Bill, with the two Senior Ministers coming out emphatically against it, signals a vote of no confidence in the government. It would have been very embarrassing for Dr. Douglas – after so vigorously and determinately – presenting that Bill to have it fail in the House.”
Archibald – acknowledging that he is taking some risk in making this assertion – suggested that the Senators (Increase of Number) Bill, 2012 would be retracted before a vote on it could be taken.
