Published 23 January 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Speaker Perkins stifles democracy in the National Assembly; bows to pressure from PM Harris
Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 23, 2018 – The Speaker of the National Assembly, Michael Perkins continues to stifle democracy in the law-making body.
It became more evident Tuesday morning when the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Denzil L. Douglas accused the Speaker of colluding with the Prime Minister and his Team Unity Government to keep him out of the National Assembly.
Dr. Douglas, during personal explanations indicated that while on his way to parliament, he was asked by a reporter whether he had resigned his seat in the National Assembly.
Dr. Doulas said he was told that the country had been informed that he was no longer a member of the Parliament.
“I immediately responded by saying that under no circumstance whatsoever, have I resigned my elected position as a member of the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis. I reminded the reporter that I was first elected to this Parliament to serve the interests of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis in 1989. I explained further that since that election to the Parliament of the country, i had been re-elected in 1993, again in 1995, yet again in 2000, yet again in 2014, yet again in 2010 and yet again in February 2015,” Dr. Douglas told Parliament and the Federation.
He said since the 1989 election, not only sitting in the parliament, pursuing the work that the people of Constituency #6 sent him to do
“but I am also pursuing the work of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party. The work and services being given to the citizens of this country at home and abroad as the prime minister from 1995 until February 2015.’
He indicated that he also informed the reporter that even though he is aware that persons are very much uncomfortable with him in the Parliament, “I have not resigned and i shall never resign because there is quite a bit of work still to be done in advancing our country to the state where it was and which sadly it has been relegated from in order to satisfy the personal whims and fancies of some persons here.”
Dr. Douglas continued: “St. Kitts and Nevis is undergoing tremendous difficulties as people are scarcely able to meet their daily needs.”
Perkins interjected that he had overlooked that leave was not requested of the Speaker, but upon giving such leave said: It should be non controversial, you should be speaking to matters that affect you personally outside of what transpires in Parliament. Please avoid getting into the politics and you are free to clear your name if you are so negatively affected,” said Perkins.
“I am almost 100 percent certain I am within the four walls of your advice,” said Dr. Douglas to which Prime Minister Harris responded loudly: “You are not.”
What seemed to be the cue from Dr. Harris, the Speaker immediately repeated that Dr. Douglas’ explanation was on the approach of a reporter and that he seemed to have already cleared the air.
Indicating that he was not finished, Dr. Douglas said there “is of course some strategy that has been employed using the abuse of privilege of this Parliament to put me in a bad light. Mr. Speaker, as I said there is much work for me to do.”
“There is only one government and one country that I have ever pledged allegiance to and that is the Government and country of St. Kitts and Nevis. I do not hold citizenship for any other country. I have declared that on several occasions, I have made it absolutely clear and it is really an abuse of the privilege of this Parliament to try to come here, the very first sitting for 2018 and is trying to bring this Parliament into a state of disrepute by saying to the world that i have no right to be here when the Attorney General as no more right to be here than Denzil Douglas,” said a passionate Denzil Douglas.
Speaker Perkins asked Dr. Douglas to resume his seat. Dr. Douglas responded that he was complying, but Perkins used the Standing Orders to first said he was suspending him for the balance of the day and later adjusted the suspension to five days.
Photo 1 Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas
Photo 2 – Speaker Michael Perkins
