BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas has refuted what he says are lies circulated by the opposition regarding a change in the Constituency Boundaries.
Calling it the “height of irresponsibility”, Douglas said there are some persons who have been doing the political equivalent of calling “Fire!” in a crowded room. He reassured listeners of his weekly “Ask the PM” programme on ZIZ Radio that the operations of the Constituency Boundaries Commission had been aboveboard and lawful.
“Some persons have been deliberately misleading and revving up the public into thinking the government is trampling the Constitution. Those in opposition must not deliberately upset, mislead and fool the people. They have to cut it out because when they manipulate persons’ emotions...they create resentment and anger.
“It is the Parliament which changes the Constitution. The government functions within its constraints and confines. Section 50 of the Constitution states the Constituency Boundaries Commission is responsible for reviewing the number and boundaries of the Constituencies. The Commission is to submit these reports to the Governor-General and can recommend that the boundaries be changed or not changed. Boundary changes must be submitted anywhere between two and five years since the last boundary report,” Douglas said.
He made reference to the change in Constituency Boundaries before the June 1984 General Elections.
“In March 1984 the then Supervisor of Elections Eugene Petty said there would be new boundaries in the upcoming elections, but he also announced the nation’s people would not know these boundaries until after Parliament had been dissolved. That is exactly what happened. Elections took place in the very same month the boundaries were changed,” Douglas said.
The Prime Minister stressed his confidence in the current composition of the Commission which consists of Barrister-at-Law Anthony Johnson and Members of Parliament the Hon. Cedric Liburd, Hon. Asim Martin, Hon. Vance Amory and Hon. Michael Perkins. He asserted they would be reliable and responsible in the execution of their duties.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Deputy Leader of the People’s Action Movement Hon. Shawn Richards declared that whatever chaos Douglas is speaking of has been caused by the Labour government.
“When you look at the statements from the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan, we know where the chaos and confusion is coming from. When you look at the crime situation, we know where the chaos and confusion is coming from.
“We have spoken to what the Constitution says about the Boundaries. If the government is not satisfied, instead of just speaking in general terms, they should tell people exactly what the Constitution says,” Richards said.
