BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Members of Parliament who are seeking relief with a Court of law regarding the failure of tabling the Motion of No Confidence have been applauded for their move, but have also been criticised for what has been referred to as procedural flaws.
Late last week, the four elected Opposition Members and the two Government Backbenchers filed a motion at the High Court asking it to order the Motion of No Confidence be tabled in Parliament before the Budget – which is slated to be tabled today (Apr. 9) – or after the Budget and before any other matter on the government’s legislative agenda.
In an interview with this publication, Social commentator and political activist Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald described the move as laudable but suggested that the men had erred in waiting until the 11th hour to approach the Court.
“I applaud the six Members of the Parliament but there is room for criticism of their strategy. It seems to me that they waited too late to bring these things forward. They waited until they reached the brink with the Budget being a couple days from now.
“It is peaceful move, a dignified and peaceful way to redress their problem in the Court of law, because the Court is an important branch of a democratic government. The Court has a say in how the country is governed and that they have decided to take the matter to Court...that is applaudable.”
Archibald is also of the view that the six men erred in not involving the public in this particular process.
“But my problem with them is that they seem to wait too late to take up these matters before they could get some public traction. Because as strong as the judiciary is, if they don’t have the support of the public it will fail. Just like the Parliament needs the support of the public, all of these democratic institutions need the support of the public. And I believe the six Members are sort of missing the ball. They are playing into the hands of Douglas when they fail to have a discussion with the public on this very public problem.
“In addition to going before the Court, they need to galvanise public opinion and you would be surprised at the groundswell of support they would get from the public, which is anxiously waiting for them to come and explain something. All these legal things people don’t understand from a far off, and you must come to us now and explain to us in simple language what is involved in this great fight that they are having with Dr. Douglas.
He nonetheless expressed his hope that they succeed in their endeavour at getting the Motion of No Confidence tabled in Parliament.
