St Kitts & Nevis: Possible unrest in no confidence motion not debated – Opposition

In addressing the first sitting of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Assembly taking place in St John’s, Antigua, on Tuesday, St Kitts & Nevis opposition member of parliament, Eugene Hamilton, warned of possible civil unrest in the federation over the failure to debate a long-outstanding parliamentary motion of no confidence.

According to Hamilton, the motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and the government of St Kitts & Nevis was served on the clerk of the federation’s parliament on December 11, 2012, and despite correspondence to the speaker of parliament, to date, some one hundred and five days later that motion remains undebated.

The speaker of the twin island-nation’s parliament, Curtis Martin, in response to an inquiry from the leader of the opposition Mark Brantley, has reportedly confirmed that this motion must be dealt with expeditiously, subject to the exigencies of government business.

Since the filing of the motion, parliament has convened on 15th and 29th January to debate the Senators Act 2013, which the High Court later declared unconstitutional on 29 February.

Hamilton pointed out that the rules of the St Kitts & Nevis parliament do not address how No confidence motions should be dealt with.

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