BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUNE 11 marked six months since Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Federal Parliament filed a Motion of No Confidence (MONC) in the Government, and in addition to some Parliamentarians expressing the view that the fabric of democracy is being unravelled, others suggest that is reeks of dictatorship.
Senator on the Opposition Benches – the Hon. Vincent Byron – in an interview with SKNVibes explained that he is “extremely concerned” and “deeply disturbed” that the Federal Parliament has met only twice for the year and that on both occasions the MONC had not been tabled.
Byron reminded that on the second sitting of Parliament – Budget Day (April 9) – the Opposition, along with the two dissident Government Bench Members (the Hons. Dr. Timothy Harris and Sam Condor), boycotted the Parliament as they felt that the Assembly should conduct no other legislative business before the MONC was tabled and debated.
“We have heard, until last week, no other attempt to call Parliament and it is deeply troubling that our citizens, our nation is in a deep crisis because the rule of law of our democracy has been undermined and continues to be undermined”.
Court action was also initiated by the “Six Parliamentarians” concerning the MONC, asking the judicial body to declare that it should be heard expeditiously. The parties involved are expected to head back to Court early next month.
Senator on the Government Benches, the Hon. Nigel Carty, also spoke with SKNVibes and explained that the Government must move along with its legislative agenda rather than tabling the MONC because of its “sub judice” nature. That is, it is before the Court awaiting judgment.
“As far as we are concerned, we have to await the outcome in the Court in relation to the Motion of No Confidence. The Motion of No Confidence has been taken to Court and I believe that all the advice we have received in relation to the legality of those matters, or what is the normal practice in terms of matters discussed in Parliament, it would be prudent that we not discuss the Motion of No Confidence until there is a settlement in terms of the Court matter.
“The Court will have to determine that the government can’t move forward for the government to not move forward. But so long as the government continues to do what it has to do and continues to meet the needs of the people and responds to the demands of the public, then it would have to carry out its agenda in the Parliament as well.”
Elected Representative for St. Christopher Eight, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton also weighed in on the issue, declaring his belief that the MONC would be placed on the Order Paper for the next sitting of Parliament, although it would not be debated.
“I want to think that they will try to fool the public by putting it on the agenda and that they intend to deal with, but I suspect that they would never deal with it…But having to deal with what they think are their important agenda issues, then they will probably adjourn the House and consider proroguing Parliament for some time, because I don’t see how any well-meaning government can have another parliamentary session without putting that on the agenda.”
“I know they use the silly excuse about sub judice, which is a rouse…because the truth be told, there is nothing sub judice about the Motion of No Confidence. Sub judice only comes into effect if the subject matter to be discussed in an issue in Parliament and is in Court. There is no subject matter which is in Court. The subject matters of the Motion are not issues in our Court for them to claim sub judice…”
Asked by this publication if he is aware of a date identified for the next sitting of Parliament, Minister Carty said he was not but indicated that the bills that have been identified would not necessarily be tabled during the next sitting of Parliament, but only the ones to which the government has given priority.
