BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 25TH 2013 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Tuesday his governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party administration is it holds a majority in the National Assembly.
During his weekly radio programme on Tuesday, Prime Minister Douglas related an experience he had on Monday with a young man who lives in the United States and the fact that even though he lives overseas and involved in a very rigorous law programme he makes the time to keep apprised of what it happening at home, and that he made a point of engaging him on the subject.
“This young man clearly did not lack for confidence, and it was a good thing to see. ‘You have to speak more frequently about the legitimacy of your Government’ he said to me with the earnestness that we tend to see only in the young. ‘You cannot assume that the man and woman in the street, who are busily earning a living and taking care of their children, have the time to really follow these issues. And the Opposition is hoping that if you just allow them to keep saying that your Government is illegal, the people might believe them. You have to explain to the public, PM, that when a Government is a minority Government, that Government does not have the votes to pass its legislation. You have to remind the public that if your Government were truly illegal the Opposition, which is led by a lawyer, would most certainly have taken you to Court. Most of all you have to not just explain to the public, but you have to give them examples to prove your point. PM, show them’,” he said.
‘That the fact that you have the votes in Parliament to pass any legislation, constitutionally, proves that you control a majority of the votes in Parliament. PM, Oppositions all over the world say whatever they think will turn the voters against the Government. But I just want you to make sure that Kittitians and Nevisians understand that, and I know that I am repeating myself here, even if every single member of the Opposition had shown up for the Budget Debate and voted against your Budget, and even if Mr. Condor and Mr. Harris had voted with the Opposition, your Budget would still have passed because, under the Constitution, you have the votes that you need in Parliament to conduct the Government’s business. And tell them that your Government also controls enough votes in Parliament, to constitutionally and legally, pass any other Government legislation’,” said Dr. Douglas.
The student said to Dr. Douglas promised that he will be listening to Ask the PM on Tuesday.
“I share this story this morning as a means of paying homage to this young, bright, and energetic young man, and in the interest of reminding the public of this very important truth,” said Dr. Douglas, who said he dismissed the Opposition’s charges on this point as mere propaganda.
Dr. Douglas used the opportunity to point out that during an appearance on Antigua’s Observer Radio’s ‘The Snake Pit,’ last night (Monday), he explained to the host of the programme that in the St. Kitts and Nevis Parliament, there are 10 members on the government’s side and on the opposition side there are 5 members.
“Even if two of the ten on the government’s side, were to side with the opposition’s five and vote, that would leave 7 against 8, with the government’s side still with the majority of 8 and legislation therefore would have been passed,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
“I dismiss the opposition charges on this point as mere propaganda, but the young man is right and the caller last night on the Observer Radio as well, is right,” said Dr. Douglas, pointing out that it was important every now and then to set the record straight even on obvious points.
“It is important every now and then to set the record straight – even on obvious points, and it was important for me to do this, this morning,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.
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