BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - NOTWITHSTANDING that they outlined reasons for boycotting today’s (Apr. 9) Budget 2013 Presentation, the six absentees have been accused of having ulterior motives and acting in satisfaction of their “own selfish agendas”.
While the Budget was being tabled before the St. Kitts-Nevis Parliament, Opposition Leader the Hon. Mark Brantley, Opposition Members the Hon. Vance Amory, Eugene Hamilton, Shawn Richards and Government Parliamentarians the Hons. Dr. Timothy Harris and Sam Condor held a press conference outlining several underlying issues which lead to their action.
While lending to the Budget debate, Minister Nigel Carty suggested that the Opposition thrives on “opposing the policy positions of the government”. He said that since the government has put specific measures in place that have the Federation in better standing, the Opposition Members have nothing to oppose and thus took the decision to absent themselves from this particular Parliamentary sitting.
“…they were telling the whole world that we had the highest debt in the entire world and, yes, our debt was high and unsustainable, but today…because that is not the case and because the debt has dropped drastically from 180 percent of GDP down to 80 percent of GDP, they no longer have any feet to stand on in relation to that matter. So they said they ain’t coming to the Parliament today because there is nothing to say.
“… at the same time, there was increasing crime, there was an increase in the number of homicides in the country and I remember the Leader of the Opposition coming into this Parliament and reading every name into the record of the Parliament. At one time he read 25 names into the record of Parliament, highlighting every single homicide which had occurred during that year. But because he doesn’t have those numbers to talk about now…he takes no delight in the fact that we have made tremendous progress on fighting crime, anti-social behaviour in the country…So he can’t be here to talk about that.”
Minister Carty further suggested that both Condor and Harris were supposed to cross the floor today but did not attend Parliament because rather than being prepared to cross the Parliamentary divide, they want to preserve the notion that they are still on the government’s side of the law-making body.
“One of the other reasons that the colleagues are not here on the Opposition Benches is that the two former colleagues had decided to cross the floor officially as of today. But they want to continue to peddle their deception to fool people who support this party in government that they are with this government and party. Because the colleagues on the other side have said to them, ‘You have to cross now and show people clearly where you stand.’ And they are saying, ‘No! Remember we are playing a little game. We are supposed to make people who support Labour believe that we are still Labour.’ But they want them to show their hand clearly that they are with them as Pamites. So they are not here because it would show exactly where they are. They would have had to cross the floor officially to show their position…”
Minister Richard Skerritt also voiced his opinion on the action of the six Parliamentarians, explaining that regarding the Opposition, it represents their “disregard for their responsibilities to this Honourable Assembly and allowed a clarion show of disrespect for the lawfully elected government of our country”.
And concerning his fellow Government Benchers, Skerritt explicated that “these two Honourable Members seem to have become obsessed with their own selfish agendas and have been enticed unto an unprecedented and illogical path that seems to be leading them into a chapter of history which is already not making good reading for either of them”.
He surmised that being consumed with its need to become the government, the Opposition is failing to execute its duties.
“It’s been over three years of this particular administration and the Opposition has been playing games for that entire period. It’s time for them to begin to do the people’s work as Opposition Members….they want to operate as if they are in government. They are getting paid to be in Opposition but, as far as they are concerned, they need to be in government so they ain’t bothering with the role as Opposition.”
