St Kitts Parliament nears dissolution

“Our responsibilities to the people are being met - and will continue to be met; and the growth and stability of our beloved country remains my Government’s most sacred priority,” Prime Minister Douglas said in a nationwide radio and television broadcast

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, October 16, 2009 – St Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas says the National Assembly will automatically dissolve on December 16th as the twin-island Federation awaits the ruling of constitutional matters now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

But he said that until the elections are called, the work of the Government will go on.

“Our responsibilities to the people are being met - and will continue to be met; and the growth and stability of our beloved country remains my Government’s most sacred priority,” Prime Minister Douglas said in a nationwide radio and television broadcast carried by most radio stations.

“As you know, we are now in the fifth year since our last election. Because the Constitution anticipated that, by this time, the country would be in election mode, it has made provisions for the automatic dissolution of Parliament on December 16th of this year.

“All that this means, however, is that Parliament will no longer meet on a routine basis for the passing of laws. Instead, Parliament will meet on matters of national importance, if and when, in accordance with the provisions of Section 47(5) of the Constitution, the Governor General authorizes them to do so, at the request of the Prime Minister,” he added.

He pointed out that although many fail to make the distinction, the Parliament and the Government are not one and the same.

Under the St Kitts and Nevis Constitution, even after the dissolution of Parliament, the Government still continues to ensure that the interests of the nation are protected and the public’s business attended to, until the holding of elections – just as it has when Parliaments have been dissolved before.

“Ministers of Government will continue meeting their ministerial responsibilities. And Government departments and agencies will continue functioning, just as before, because the Constitution, fully expects, and indeed requires, that the nation’s business continue to be taken care of,” the Prime Minister said.