BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Team Unity Government is continuing with the Motion of No Confidence (MoNC) case that it filed while in Opposition and has expressed that the case would be disposed of shortly.
In December 2012, a Motion of No Confidence was filed against then Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Denzil L. Douglas and his Government by the Team Unity Movement which was then in opposition.
The MoNC was never tabled in Parliament and that led to the Opposition petitioning the court to adjudicate the matter.
Yesterday (Oct. 26), while speaking at the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference, Attorney General the Hon. Vincent Byron explained that the Team Unity Government – which took office in February 2015 - had filed papers months ago and that a hearing date was set for today and tomorrow (27th and 28th).
He explained that Team Unity remains committed to ensuring that constitutional breaches which took place under the previous administration are dealt with “effectively and efficiently”.
The two breaches which he mentioned were: 1. The lack of appointment of a Deputy Speaker to the National Assembly for the last term of the previous administration, and 2. The failure of the Speaker of the National Assembly who served during that time – Curtis Martin - to table the Motion of No Confidence in the Federal Parliament.
“…This country has been put through one of our lowest periods in our history, when for 26 months there was a refusal to do what was right on the constitution mandated. And so for months we have filed all the papers…in our claim. Months and months ago. And we are awaiting for the court to establish a date, to establish what the constitutional mandate it.
“We will get the court to say what it is and so that date had been set down for the 27th and 28th to have two days of hearing. There would be no witness cross examination. All that is required now is for there to be all arguments by lawyers representing the Speaker and lawyers representing the claimants, the Team Unity Movement.”
AG Byron said there is delay in the hearing of the matter as, according to Martin’s legal counsel, “he has other matters in Antigua at the same time and so asked for an adjournment for it to be vacated. And the court has agreed to allow a short window before they appoint another date”.
The Attorney General said the expectation is that this case would soon be disposed of.
“So we expect that this matter will be settled shortly and so for the benefit of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and for jurisprudence anywhere in the world, we would be able to establish what is the right thing to do and this team Unity Government will uphold the rule of law. We will uphold the Constitution and do what is right.”
