Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

PAM Leader - Mr. Lindsay Grant

Basseterre, St.Kitts - Nevis
People’s Action Movement
March 02, 2010

The clarion call for a proper overhaul of the electoral system by the People’s Action Movement and its Leader Lindsay Grant involving a complete enumeration and re-registration of voters has now been echoed by Premier Joseph Parry, as well as Opposition Leader Mark Brantley.

In an interview with WINN FM’s Toni Frederick, Premier Parry indicated that he was in full support of the Commonwealth Report’s recommendation of a fresh enumeration and voter re-registration.

“I think it is a fantastic idea and I am very supportive of it. Let me say I did not realize that (complete enumeration and re-registration of voters) was recommended but I have no objection because all kinds of persons have gotten their way on to our list here in Nevis. We need to clean it up, we definitely need to clean it up,” said Premier Parry

This recommendation by the Commonwealth report mirrors that of the People’s Action Movement who has been advocating discarding the voters list with a view of starting anew with a complete enumeration and re-registration process.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Brantley also supported the Commonwealth’s and People’s Action Movement’s Leader Lindsay Grants long voiced recommendation that an enumeration and re-registration is paramount for the basis of an efficient, free and fair electoral process.

“I feel we can now with some deliberate speed set about a complete re-registration, a complete enumeration process. Let us go into the neighborhoods and the communities and find people and register them right then and there. I feel that that is the only logical way. the mere fact that we are having this level of debate and on a “reformed” electoral system tells us that the reform was an abysmal failure whatever its intentions might have been it has failed and with those circumstances we must now go back and ensure we do a complete new exercise,” said St. Kitts-Nevis Opposition Leader Mark Brantley.

People’s Action Movement Leader Lindsay Grant further reiterated and emphasized his party’s displeasure with the current electoral system.

“There ought never to have been a reconfirmation system. We should have had an entire system where you have everybody registering anew. That is what was required in the system, said People’s Action Movement Leader Grant.

The Commonwealth Expert Team presented numerous recommendations in their official and final February 19 Report after observing the electoral process here in our Federation. The enumeration of voters in St. Kitts-Nevis was the most significant and controversial issue raised by the Report.

In short, their conclusion: a total and mandatory re-registration of the electoral system. This is a vindication of the People’s Action Movement’s primary position on Electoral Reform. The people of St. Kitts and Nevis are bestowed with the constitutionally enshrined right to free, fair and free from fear elections. It stands to reason that this can only be achieved with a voter registration system that accurately represents the composition of inhabitants within each constituency.

With further detail, the Commonwealth Expert Team expressly recommends that “a system of complete re-registration should be explored. The Team recognizes that considerable resources have been expended on the printing of the National Identification Card and that some may have to be reprinted for those voters who may be required to register in the constituency in which they reside. It may also entail the amendment of electoral Regulations to clarify and strengthen the residency requirements.”

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts - Nevis Calls For Voter Registration Confirmation
2. St. Kitts - Nevis Voter Registration System Passes Tests
3. St. Kitts - Nevis Voter Registration - 5,000 Confirmed
4. St. Kitts - Nevis Citizens Can Confirm Voter Registration
5. Nevis To Clean Up Voter List

St. Kitts - Nevis’ Police Commissioner - Williams
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 01 2010 (CUOPM)

The NGO Coalition is coming under fire from the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.

The Coalition, which only comprises the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry of Commerce, the St. Kitts Christian Council and the St. Kitts Evangelical Association has come under severe criticism from several quarters for its report which only targets Prime Minister and Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas. Dr. Douglas has denied the allegations in the NGO Coalition Report.

Monday, the Joint military release said that in light of and considering the erroneous and subjective pronouncements by the local observer entity the NGO Coalition, whose intent is clearly to misrepresent the truth, the Security Forces wish to state categorically that on no occasion was there any deliberate altercation between themselves and the voting public, notwithstanding the attempts by certain political elements to disrupt the free and fair conduct of the voting process.

The Defence Force Commander (Lt. Colonel Patrick Wallace) denounces the allegation by the NGO Collation that on polling day members of the Defence Force were deployed to Constituency 4 “in riot gear and toting M16 rifles.” He wishes to state categorically that soldiers of the Force did not wear riot gear on polling day, nor were they deployed with M16 rifles for duties associated with the elections during the period of polling on Election Day, said the statement.

“The Defence Force Commander further denounces the NGO Coalition allegation that the candidate for Constituency 6 berated members of the Force for failing to transport Labour Party supporters to vote in Constituencies 4 and 5 as a blatant lie, and also condemn the NGOs Coalition Observers” accusation that military vehicles were used to transport voters on Election Day as “malicious,” said the statement.

The Joint statement from the Police and Defence Forces also state: The NGO Coalition report goes on to claim “Major concerns were raised by a number of voters and security personnel about the disruption of the poll in constituency 4 by the presence of the Labour Party candidate for Constituency 6 and that Dr. Denzil Douglas was responsible, in large measure for the prolong interruption of traffic flow in and out of Half Way Tree”.

The above quote from the NGO Coalition report is an unfortunate assumption that the representative of Constituency 6 who was himself inconvenienced by the slow flow of traffic along the island main road on polling day and who had to walk eastward along the main road to the location where the Labour Party agents were positioned, was responsible for the situation.  It must be noted that his official vehicle had to travel over the same treacherous terrain in the farmlands of Half Way Tree area mentioned in the report to avoid the traffic congestion that he is being accused of deliberately creating, said the Joint Statement.

It further noted that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Williams, who was in Halfway Tree, “can attest to the fact that at no material time was the Labour Candidate for Constituency No 6 the cause of any traffic congestion as this was a challenge faced by the Security Forces at various locations throughout the district, and further, there was no disruption of the polls due to the presence of the Labour Party leader or for any other reason.”

It added that Commissioner of Police Williams will further attest that most of the “altercations” experienced in Constituency 4 on Election Day “were direct results of activists of the main Opposition Party and that he had to intervene on many occasions to placate that group of boisterous bystanders.”

“The report of the NGOs Coalition in this regard is pure fabrication and does not represent the actual facts,” said the Joint Statement from the Defence Force and Police Force.

“The Security Forces are alarmed at the irresponsible behaviour of this NGO Coalition and condemn its report — a document which can only be described as malevolent — and questions the intent of the composite groups who claimed to have an interest in fairness, safety and security,” it further stated.

It said that on Election Day (January 25th 2010), the presence of the security forces was a welcome relief for those voters who were taunted while attempting to exercise their franchise, even while certain members of the NGO Coalition made no effort to dissuade this unacceptable behaviour.

“It is our contention that the NGO Coalition report is nothing but a smoke screen to facilitate some hidden agenda. The Security Forces have no choice but to demand the total retraction of the numerous documentation of falsehood and malicious reporting of allegations,” said the Joint Statement.

“The Security Chiefs at this time wishes to use this opportunity, to thank all citizens and residents of the Federation for their cooperation over the years and to reassure all of our continued professionalism, dedication to the fight against crime in the islands and to preserve law and order.  The security forces are committed to respecting the rights of the people, upholding our constitution and preserving democracy.  We seek God’s guidance and solicit your prayers and support as we strive to make our Federation safe for all,” the statement concluded.

Related posts:

1. PM Douglas Disagrees With NGO Coalition Report
2. St. Kitts - Nevis Citizens Await “New” Police Force
3. St. Kitts - Nevis Police Force To Go Hi-Tech
4. More Training For St. Kitts - Nevis Police Force
5. Nevis Government Assures Support For Police Force

“Residency Requirements Need To Be Strenghted and Clarified”

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
February 24, 2010 (CUOPM)

The Commonwealth Observer Team is suggesting a number of recommendations following the January 25th general elections.

In a 33-page report, the Team commended the Electoral Commission for the use of the National Identification Card and the Photo List in the polling stations, stating it was overwhelmed by the observation that the secrecy of the ballot was satisfactorily observed.

It also commended the Returning Officers and the tally clerks for their diligent, efficient, and impartial manner during the count and stated categorically that on polling day, the previous allegations and charges of bias laid against the election apparatus proved to be unjustified.

The Commonwealth Team also said it observed the professional and appropriate behaviour by the police and security services in their protection of the polling process and that the presence of police officers at the polling stations were there only to maintain order, and not in any intimidatory or partisan capacity.

To further enhance the electoral process, the Commonwealth Team is suggesting that provision should be made to facilitate the widest possible consultation with political parties in the appointment of Election Commissioners and the Supervisor of Elections, to ensure confidence in their impartiality, provision should be made for the Supervisor of Elections to be a fulltime position, and for strengthening the Electoral Office, as well as exploring a system of complete re-registration.

The Commonwealth said it recognises that considerable resources have been expended on the printing of the National Identification Card and that some may have to be reprinted for those voters who may be required to register in the constituency in which they reside.

It may also entail the amendment of electoral Regulations to clarify and strengthen the residency requirements and if possible, registration could be undertaken in each constituency.

It recommended again the need to finalise the redistribution of the electoral boundaries to ensure that each constituency contains as nearly equal number of inhabitants as practicable, in accordance with the Constitution and for a Code or regulations to be introduced to govern media coverage during an election period, to ensure balanced and fair presentation of issues, parties and candidates.

It suggested that St. Kitts and Nevis could draw on the assistance and resources of the Commonwealth Secretariat and relevant Commonwealth organisations in this regard.

A further suggestion was that the Electoral Commission should look at the possibility of utilizing more than one voting booth in each polling station as a means of speeding the process of voting, pointing out that the expense of constructing booths could be minimised through the use of smaller cardboard screens which can be sourced regionally.

It also suggested that the electoral authorities should examine the allocation of staff resources and the distribution of voters between polling stations, to avoid long queues and waiting times. The number of voters in each polling station could be limited to a certain maximum, such as 300 - 350.

It noted that the practice of retaining the counterfoil on the ballot before it is delivered to the voter who returns it to the Presiding Officer for removal should be discontinued.

The counterfoil should be retained by the Presiding Officer and the ballot paper separated by a perforated line. The practice of handing the ballot paper to the Presiding Officer for placement in the ballot box should also be discontinued and this step should be done by the voter after the digit is immersed in the electoral ink.

It suggested the need for the introduction of campaign financing rules to ensure fairness and transparency and that consideration should be given to the effectiveness of the “campaign blackout” provisions and their interpretation, to ensure that the rules are clearly and consistently understood and the intention of the law is upheld.

The Commonwealth said that the independent voter and civic education should be conducted by the electoral authorities, potentially in cooperation with non-government organisations, churches and schools, to help raise awareness of the importance of transparent and accountable democratic processes.

It is also suggested that political parties and civil society groups should consider how women may be encouraged to run for parliament in greater numbers, including if necessary promoting changes in campaign practices to increase gender sensitivity.

“This is an area where the Commonwealth Secretariat could be approached for advice and assistance,” said the Report.

It further stated that the role of civil society organisations in the democratic process should be further strengthened, including the possibility of continuing and expanding the deployment of domestic observers in future elections.

It stated that the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth organisations should be prepared to consider favourably requests for advice and assistance to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations.

Related posts:

1. Commonwealth Commends St. Kitts - Nevis Electoral Commission
2. St. Kitts - Nevis Electoral Reform Process Moving Ahead
3. PM Douglas Reflects On Electoral Reform Process
4. Ballot Confidentiality A Priority For Elections Officials
5. Nevis Premier Welcomes Caricom Electoral Observer Team