St. Kitts & Nevis: Timothy Harris administration seeks to introduce term limits for Prime Minister

The Harris administration in St. Kitts & Nevis will introduce a bill in the country’s parliament that imposes term limits on anyone holding the post of Prime Minister.

According to government officials, the administration has put forward two five-year terms as the maximum length of time an individual can serve in the position.

Under the Tenure of Office of Prime Minister Bill, 2015 “A person who is elected Prime Minister under the Constitution shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, hold office for a term of five years”; and “A person shall not be elected to hold office as Prime Minister for more than two terms as prescribed by this section.”

The country’s Attorney General who also doubles as the Minister responsible for Justice and Legal Affairs, Elections and Communications, Vincent F. Byron Jr. will pilot the Bill.

The legislation is in keeping with the promise which recently elected prime minister, Timothy Harris, and his ruling party, made during the election campaign that preceded its February 16, 2015 general election victory.

The trend is gaining traction in the Caribbean region – in August 2014, the parliament in Trinidad & Tobago passed legislation that imposing a two-term limit for a prime minister.