BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER of St. Kitts and Nevis the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas gave insight into his government’s Legislative Agenda making mention of possible boundary realignment, the Integrity in Public Life Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill.
In a perfect world for the Members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Federal Parliament, the Motion of No Confidence which they filed with the Clerk of the House would be the next item to be debated in Parliament.
Dr. Douglas, however, during his monthly press conference held yesterday afternoon (May 15) indicated that because the Motion is the subject of a pending court matter and while it is the subject of the pending court case, it is ‘sub judice’ and not likely to be tabled in the Parliament.
Among the legislation which Dr. Douglas said must be handled as a matter of urgency are those that address gratuity payment issues and amendments to the Social Security Scheme Regulations.
“We have been saying in particular that a number of things have (been) left undone which need to be done now. First among them is that those persons who are not working within the public sector and who have worked for several years… and they wish to move on, they should have the legislative support to be provided with the gratuity as they move on. That needs to be on the Legislative Agenda immediately.
“There are also the necessary changes that would be made to the Regulations pertaining to the Social Security Scheme. Those Regulations would have to be amended as part of our immediate Legislative Agenda so that those contributors to the fund who have been regular contributors, by way of their work for whatever reason, find themselves unemployed; we would want to ensure that they can access the funds through a short-term unemployment benefit. That needs Legislative support as well and that is urgent for us.”
With regards to revisiting the Boundaries, Prime Minister Douglas informed that the Boundaries Commission “is in fact sitting as I speak. They will end – I believe – their work normally with the document that would come to the Parliament. That had to be part of the Legislative Agenda”.
The Integrity in Public Life Bill – which received its first reading in Parliament in November 2012 - and the Freedom of Information Act, according to the Prime Minister, are “part and parcel of our active Legislative Agenda”.
The Minister of Finance said there are other pieces of Legislation which require urgent attention, and while he could not give a timeline for the tabling of the bills, it is expected to be done soonest.
“We would hope that in the first sitting of Parliament after the Budget Presentation we would be able to bring - if not all - some of those, most of them to the Parliament. As to when I am not certain as yet. I know that we have been talking about the House meeting shortly, but as to when I am not able to say as I speak to you.”
