BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE pending Motion of No Confidence filed against the sitting government still weighs heavy on the minds and hearts and possibly even pockets of some, and again the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) is calling for it to be disposed of without further delay.
The familiar call was made earlier today (Oct. 17) by CIC President David Lake, who delivered an address during the opening ceremony of the National Consultation of the Economy.
Lake described the fact that the Motion is still pending as an “area of economic concern that needs to be addressed”.
“Last December, in addressing the Chamber’s Christmas Luncheon, the Prime Minister said that the recently filed Motion of No Confidence should be dealt with expeditiously. At the end of January of this year, the Chamber called on him to ensure that the Motion be brought before the National Assembly without further delay.”
Lake said the CIC is “alarmed that this matter continues to drag on to the detriment of the economy, the investment and the good name of our country”.
And as has been done in the past, he echoed the Chamber’s call for the “matter to be disposed of without further delay”.
In response, Prime Minister Douglas disagreed with the Chamber’s assertion and declared that the pending Motion has not negatively impacted the stability of the country.
“In closing, I wish to comment on the reference to the outstanding Motion of No Confidence within the context of reference to economic maybe instability and also the fact that there may be some damage to the image of our country. I want to submit this morning that we are very confident that there is no instability with regard to investment opportunities in this country.
“When you look in particular at the tremendous improvement in the rollout of new projects that are as a result of foreign direct investment, we are certain that there is no damage to the image of St. Kitts, not after the several leadership roles that we have been called upon to pursue in the region and in the international and global community with regard to the welfare of people all over the world.”
The Prime Minister reminded that the matter was paced within the hands of the Court and explained that it would not be debated until after it would have been disposed of there.
“I therefore wish to remind us that under the Constitution and the standing orders, there is no stipulated timetable within which a Motion of No Confidence should be debated in a National Assembly. Before the Assembly could set a date for the Motion to be heard - after giving that commitment to the Chamber in December of last year - the issue was placed within the jurisdiction of the Court and the matter became sub-judice and it is still so. The matter was placed there by the Opposition and the Speaker of the National Assembly has already ruled on this particular matter.
“Clearly, there can be no debate of such a motion until the Court has pronounced on the matter before it. I am saying that after the litigation ends, the National Assembly – of course - would dispose of the matter in accordance with the related rules of the House of the National Assembly.”
The Motion of No Confidence was filed with the Clerk of the House in early December 2012, and after several failed attempts to have it tabled – inclusive of court action – it was withdrawn and a fresh Motion was filed in early July of this year.
Notwithstanding the Opposition’s request that the matter be taken from the Court, it remains there for adjudication.
