BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-PRIME MINISTER Dr. Hon. Denzil Douglas stated this morning (Feb. 3) on his radio programme, “Ask the Prime Minister”, that term limits for the Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis may be addressed in the future.
Addressing a caller who asked if the PM would be willing to look into term limits for his position after Parliamentary Representative and ex-Minister of National Security Hon. G. A. Dwyer Astaphan asked the leader last week to step down, Douglas said the matter had been previously discussed as an electoral reform issue.
“When we had the National Consultation with regards to Electoral Reform, this is one of the matters that had been ventilated throughout the entire discussions.”
He did admit, however, that the prospect of term limits received an inadequate amount of discussion by the parties in attendance.
“It appears from the final report that went through the appropriate committee that this is a matter that may not have necessarily been given priority, but I am sure that since the exercise of reform is not yet completed… it may be easy to do it,” Douglas told the caller.
The ability of the government to change the number of terms a Prime Minister can serve his or her country, which is currently unregulated, would be dependent upon the constitution.
“This will be a constitutional matter I believe. If it is an entrenched clause within the constitution [that regulates term limits], it may have a particular procedure to follow in Parliament before the constitution can be amended,” Douglas said.
The Prime Minister stated that he would continue to research the matter and would bring his findings before the nation in due time.
Later in the programme, Douglas said that he found former Minister Astaphan’s remarks a due reason for “introspection”, though it is a practice he claimed to regularly engage in.
“In my own case as a leader…I am always very conscious of my own situation in life. I am not perfect. However, I feel very strongly that there will always be those who will give comments. As a person in public life, I expect criticism.
“When I am criticised I am not deterred. However, it gives the opportunity for a moment to reflect,” he said. “I believe that the course of action I am taking as the leader of this country is in fact the course I have been elected and mandated to do, and that I shall continue to do.”
