BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - SENATOR Nigel Cary has revealed that the Executive body of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has a “clear course” it would take in disciplining former Senior Government Minister Dr. Timothy Harris at a special convention to be held in a “short few weeks”.
Carty, who was a guest on Freedom FM ‘Issues’ programme, yesterday afternoon (Feb. 18), was at the time responding to a question posed by host Juni ‘Big JL’ Liburd in relation to the party’s decision to remove Harris as its Chairman.
He spoke about Dr. Harris’ perceived unhelpful attendance at past Executive Meetings which stopped the top matters from being pursued.
“I think Dr. Harris was being very obstructive in his operations when he came to the Party’s Executive Meetings, attempting to prevent the Executive from moving forward on important agenda items.
“Eventually, the Executive of the Party took a decision to have a special conference at which matters pertaining to the disciplining of Dr. Harris can be dealt with. We have since received legal advice. I think we have a clear course that we going to proceed along. We are waiting to have that certain date set to have that special conference,” Carty said.
He declared that it is expected at the next Executive Meeting, “which comes up in not too long, we would be able to make on a final date and have that matter heard at the special conference”.
Carty also indicated that six Branches of the Labour Party have formally requested to have such a convention to address issues with Dr. Harris.
“In addition to the Executive of the Party taking a decision to have this special conference, we have had six Branches of the Labour Party have writing independently to indicate that they would want a special conference to have such a matter heard and other matters pertinent to the politics within the Party and so forth.
“So I expect in a short few weeks we are going to have a date set and the matter determined at a special convention of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.”
On Friday, January 25, 2013, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas sacked Dr. Harris from the ruling Labour Party Administration.
In explaining the reasons for his decision, PM Douglas indicated that Dr. Harris’ opposition to the government’s thrust has become “more and more vocal and intense” and is “accompanied by political activity in the wider community, aimed at undermining the programmes and initiatives of the government”.
He said it is evident that Dr. Harris “does not regard himself as being bound by the collective responsibility of the Cabinet and this could become disruptive to the smooth flow of government business”.
Dr. Harris, he said, had refused to support the Senators (Increasing of Number) Bill, 2012 and the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (Vesting of Certain Lands) Bill 2012 (both government-sponsored) and has indicated that he would not support the 2013 Budget when tabled in Parliament.
Additionally, the PM explained that Dr. Harris has not indicated whether or not he would vote against the Opposition’s Motion of No Confidence against the government in which he serves.
