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

Governor General - Sir Sebastian Cuthbert
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 08, 2010 (CUOPM)

The St. Kitts - Nevis Labour Party Administration policies and programmes of Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas will be outlined next Wednesday March 10th at the Opening of a new session of the National Assembly.

Governor General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian will deliver the traditional Speech from the Throne following the election of a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker and the taking of the Oath by all members on the government and opposition benches.

First elected in July 1995 and re-elected in March 2000 and October 2004, Prime Minister Douglas’ St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) received a renewed mandate from the electorate on January 25th 2010 winning six of the eleven seats in the lawmaking body.

Returning to the lawmaking body are Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin, (Labour – St. Christopher 1); Hon. Sam Condor (Labour – St. Christopher 3); Hon.  Shawn Richards (PAM – St. Christopher 5); Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas (Labour – St. Christopher 6); Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris (Labour - St. Christopher 7); Hon. Mark Brantley (CCM – Nevis 9); Hon. Vance Amory (CCM-Nevis 10) and Hon. Patrice Nisbett (NRP – Nevis 11).

Newly-elected representatives are Hon. Marcella Liburd (Labour – St. Christopher 2); Hon. Glenn Phillip (Labour - St. Christopher 4) and the Hon. Eugene Hamilton (PAM – St. Christopher 8). Ms. Liburd is no stranger to the lawmaking body having served as a senator and as Speaker in the National Assembly.

Returning also are the two government-appointed senators – Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty and Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt and lone opposition senator-designate – Hon. Vincent Byron Jr.

The Members of the National Assembly will assemble on the Ground Floor of Government Headquarters. Prime Minister Douglas will inspect the Guard of Honour outside Government Headquarters, following which he will lead a procession of parliamentarians to the National Assembly Chambers.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Mr. Jose Lloyd will invite the Chaplain to say Prayers and   then read the Proclamation from Government House.

The Clerk will supervise the Election of the Speaker and administers the Oath. Following the election of a Deputy Speaker and the administering of the Oath of Allegiance to all members, the House will be suspended for the arrival of His Excellency the Governor General Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian GCMG, OBE, MD, CM.

Sir Cuthbert on arrival will take the Salute and Inspects the Guard of Honour before going to the National Assembly Chambers to deliver the Throne Speech, his third since taking office in 1996. The Second Speech from the Throne was delivered by the Deputy Governor, His Honour Mr. Eustace John in 2000.

The National Assembly will adjourn following the Throne Speech and the Departure of the Governor General.

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2. Governor General Gives Assent To National Assembly Elections
3. New Speaker For St. Kitts - Nevis National Assembly
4. Portugal’s New Ambassador Vists Governor General
5. St. Kitts - Nevis To Have New Speaker Of The House

Minister of Agriculture - Dr. Timothy Harris
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 04, 2010 (CUOPM)

Newly-appointed Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris will outline plans and programmes for increasing food production and articulate a role for agriculture in the stability and transformation of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Senior Minister is no stranger to the agricultural sector, having served as the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Housing in the First Labour Party Labour administration that served over the period 1995-2000.

A release from the Ministry of Agriculture said that Dr. Harris spearheaded the revitalisation of the livestock sector which was then suffering from a tropical bont tick disease.

He began the decentralization of agricultural support services to rural communities and established Outreach Centres at Tabernacle and Fahies.   Tabernacle and Con Phipps were designated for Livestock Development Centres and long term leasehold agreements for farmers were pursued.

“Dr. Harris pursued cooperation with stakeholders and presided over the launch of what was to become an Annual Celebration of Agriculture Day and recognition of farmers,” said the statement.

It said that the Director of Agriculture, Mr Ashton Stanley will provide an overview of the performance of the agricultural sector for 2009 and the expected outcomes for 2010.  Programme leaders are also expected to make a presentation.

Agriculture stakeholders including CARDI, IICA, the Republic of China on Taiwan, and the Embassy of Venezuela, are expected to be represented at the opening session.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Agriculture Minister Calls For Reflection On World Food Day
2. Nevis Agriculture Minister Happy About Sea Cotton Crop
3. Nevis Agriculture Minister Grateful For Support
4. Nevis Agriculture Minister Speaks Out To Producers
5. Nevis Agriculture Minister Shares His Vision For 2009

More Scandal For St. Kitts - Nevis Government

Basseterre, St.Kitts - Nevis
People’s Action Movement
March 03, 2010

In his usual arrogance Prime Minister Douglas has again found himself in serious constitutional trouble. In his haste to cement his weakening authority and undermine the influence of the Hon. Timothy Harris he appointed to Cabinet every single member on the government benches. He even co-opted the NRP representative as Attorney General and has left himself with no options with regard to the absolute constitutional requirement of a Deputy Speaker.

There is no escape clause from  32 (3) of the constitution which states that the only parliamentary business that can be conducted after the first business of appointing a Speaker of the National Assembly is the appointment of a Deputy Speaker. No parliamentary business can be conducted otherwise. With the only possibility on the opposition bench ensconced in the Attorney General’s chambers the Prime Minister is in a quandary. No member on the opposition benches will accept this position because the speaker and deputy must be neutral so that party would essentially be giving up one of its voices in the National Assembly. On the other hand the government has a plethora of voices and the Federation with its catastrophic National Debt can do with one less ministerial salary.

Speculation is rife that that Nigel Carty or Richard Skerritt will have to find a more lucrative salary elsewhere as one of them may  soon be stripped of his portfolio. In light of the serious allegations made in a court affidavit that came to light during the election campaign it is likely that Prime Minister Douglas will use this opportunity to relieve himself of a political liability in Nigel Carty. He will likely end up like the losing Labour candidates as a superfluous advisor to some Ministry to the burden of the taxpayer but the country will be spared the embarrassment of his scandal in the Cabinet.

The other choice that Prime Minister Douglas can make is to simply violate the constitution yet again by attempting to appoint another senator. In that case the court will have more work to do because yet another injunction will fetter the work of parliament.

In addressing the issue the Hon. Shawn K. Richards said “Prime Minister Douglas created this mess for himself and he will have to deal with the consequences. The bright side for the country in  this matter is that Douglas will have one less sycophant in the Cabinet,”

Related posts:

1. PM Douglas Expects Parliamentarians To Show Maturity
2. PM Douglas Denies Involvement Bribery Scandal
3. Prime Minister Douglas Has Not Breached Court Order
4. PM Douglas Commends Richard Skerritt
5. PM Douglas Lies: Government Failed to Comply With Court