BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS was predicted in many quarters, less than six hours after his appointment as Attorney-General (AG) and Senator in the Federal Parliament was declared null and void by the Court, a procedural change was executed and the Hon. Jason Hamilton reappointed to these offices.
The official announcement of his reappointment was made this evening (Feb. 28) by the Political Leader of the Federation, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas via radio and television.
In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Douglas stressed that under the Constitution of the Federation, it is “completely legal” for the Parliament to have four Senators appointed to it with one serving as the AG. However, he added, owing to points raised by the Court of law, his government acted in a procedurally-sound manner to return Hamilton to those posts.
“Today, however, the Courts ruled that – procedurally, and I stress, procedurally – Mr. Hamilton should have first been named a Senator after one of the two Senators/Ministers would have resigned and then be appointed Attorney General. My government aims at all times to adhere to the rules and guidelines of the Constitution, and so, following the Court’s ruling, moved without delay to ensure that the process via which Mr. Hamilton was named Senator and Attorney-General was corrected. Under our Constitution, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis must have an Attorney-General.
“In order for Mr. Hamilton to properly serve in this capacity, therefore, he was today named a Senator in the National Assembly of St. Kitts-Nevis. The Honourable Nigel Carty having resigned as Senator in order to make this possible. In response to the points raised in today’s Court ruling, Senator Hamilton was then appointed our nation’s fifth post Independence Attorney-General.”
Dr. Douglas informed that Carty would resume his tasks as the Minister with responsibility for Education and Information, Agriculture, Marine Resources and Cooperatives, following his reappointment.
He however did not indicate when Carty’s reappointment would be effected.
Late last month, the makeup of the Federal Assembly was altered with the addition of Hamilton as AG and a Senator. His presence in the House in that capacity meant that the number of Senators had increased to four.
This led to persons questioning the constitutionality of the move and, according to arguments with which the Court agreed, Hamilton ought not have been added to the Assembly as the AG and fourth Senator.
