Published 20 June 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News.
St. Kitts and Nevis Opposition tells regional parliamentarians it will no longer
tolerate abuse and subjugation of its members by Speaker Michael Perkins
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 19TH 2017 Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas expressed concern Monday for the stability of democracy in St. Kitts and Nevis as a consequence of the abject irrationality and callous impartiality on display in the National Assembly.
He told the opening ceremony of the 42nd Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) that brings together parliamentarians from across the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic that the Opposition will not endure much longer the constant abuse and subjugation of its members in the local lawmaking body.
“Having exhausted other means, I have brought this matter to the attention of this conference. It is my hope that this conference can be used to restore rationality and propriety to the proceedings of our Parliament,” said Dr. Douglas, who detailed several of the atrocities meted out to opposition parliamentarians by the Speaker, Hon. Michael Perkins.
He told delegates that it was imperative that the play a pivotal role in demonstrating the commitment of Speakers of Parliaments and all Parliamentarians of this region in not only protecting, but more importantly strengthening and advancing Parliamentary democracy, rather than undermining it and derogating the conduct of Parliaments to a level that is truly beneath members as a responsible people deeply rooted in democratic traditions.
He invoked the words of the CPA Secretary General: ‘Parliament is the key pillar of any functioning democracy. In fact, it is difficult to imagine what kind of democracy can exist without an effective Parliament that scrutinises governments and ensures transparency while promoting good governance.’
Dr. Douglas said it was sad that parliaments in some parts of this region have retrogressed and morphed into extensions of the executive branch of government and “exist merely as tools to protect governments and their strict partisan political agendas, and to shut out, shut up, subjugate and demean their opposition, rather than live out their true democratic purpose.”
“If indeed Parliament is a key pillar of our democratic system of government, we must pay more than lip service in this region to stemming the callous undermining and retrograde disposition of some of our Parliaments,” said Dr. Douglas who stated: “We owe it to ourselves and to this and future generations, because a people who have known democracy will resist any and all attempts to reverse the course of our democratic evolution, by any and all means.”
He told the near 100 delegates and observers that he was leading a delegation comprising members of the Opposition from multiple political organisations from both Nevis and St. Kitts that look forward to this conference sending a strong and unequivocal message with regard to the region’s commitment to the ideals of a strong and independent Parliament promoting a vibrant and inclusive democracy.
Turning again to the words of the Secretary General Mr. Akbar Khan, Dr. Douglas said: “Lest we err, ‘independent’ in this particularised context means independent of and non-reliant on government.”
He asked: “How can a Parliament, by whatever means, repeatedly deny members of Parliament, present in person, available and inclined to speak, an opportunity to debate essential propositions put forward by the government side? How can a Parliament continue to flout its own rules for short-term convenience while putting into jeopardy the independence, honour and high public regard of the Parliament?
The seven-term MP said his delegation looks very much forward to engaging in such critical and enlightening discussions as ‘the role of the Speaker’, ‘the role of the Opposition’ and ‘the role of the Parliament in promoting democracy, peace, civility, stability and prosperity.’
“We need to get back to the basics. The state of affairs of our democratic systems of governance requires it,” he said, adding that while it is his expectation that veritable progress can be made at this conference on the subject matters he has raised, it was imperative as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis, to explore all avenues to bring light and peaceful resolution to the very troubling state of affairs in the St. Kitts and Nevis National assembly.
He disclosed he has made the subject of a letter to the Regional Secretary, the particulars of the conduct of the affairs of the Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis.
He said it is his delegation’s hope that an appropriate forum can be found in which the critical issues can be discussed and resolved as he it is the next step as meetings with the Speaker have been used only to reinforce the Speaker’s position that he possesses a right to determine the issues as he pleases.
“A motion of no confidence brought by the Leader of the Opposition earlier this year on the account of the conduct of the affairs of the Parliament was refused to be heard. It was instead withdrawn by the Speaker himself using rules that he devised. He sat in his chair, debated the merits of the motion against him – all by himself, subjugated Opposition members as he did so, and ejected them from the Parliament when they objected to his undemocratic posture,” said Dr. Douglas.
He told the parliamentarians from several Caribbean states, Canada and Cameroon, that after two and half years since the installation of this Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee, a standing committee of Parliament, with the important function of providing critical oversight of the Public purse, as mandated by law, remains on the backburner.
“This is beneath us; it is retrogressive, barbaric, untransparent and unbecoming of the very core ideals of our Parliamentary system of democracy,” said Dr. Douglas.
He said he looks forward to a robust participation and fruitful deliberations at the conference, and to constancy of upholding the ideals of the Commonwealth parliamentary system of democracy.
