Published 14 February 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
by: Media Source
Speaker Perkins continues to stifle democracy by blocking two opposition legislators and suspending a third
Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 13, 2018 – The Speaker of the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Michael Perkins, prevented two opposition parliamentarians from making their contributions on legislation before the lawmaking body on Tuesday, although there were five members of the government side still to speak.
Speaker Perkins, who has been accused of stifling democracy in the National Assembly, also directed the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Eugene Hamilton, to move a motion, suspending another opposition parliamentarian, Hon. Konris Maynard, from the National Assembly for 10 days.
Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, along with Sen. Nigel Carty and Hon. Konris Maynard walked out in protest after Douglas and Carty were denied their constitutional right to speak.
In an interview on Kyss 102.5 FM, Dr. Douglas said that Maynard, the Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 3 (West Basseterre) and Hon. Marcella Liburd, Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 2 (Central Basseterre) had given sterling presentations on The St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports (Amendment) Bill.
“This appears to be a clear indication that there is a concerted effort on the part of the government not to allow us to speak on critical issues in our parliament. The government is facilitated by the Hon. Speaker, Michael Perkins. We should not have to leave the parliament of our country that we have been elected to serve and represent our people and come to a radio station, or go to the media, in order for the country to understand what issues we are having with that piece of legislation which seeks to amend the existing St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority Bill,” said Dr. Douglas.
“We feel very strongly that this is a deliberate effort on the part of the government not to have us heard in seriously criticising the government on matters that are fundamental, not only to the democracy of our country but also placing our country on a strong economic and financial path for our future,” said Dr. Douglas, the former prime minister.
He said that the fundamental questions raised by Liburd and Maynard in their robust presentations in the debate “were whether the government was planning to sell the airport and the sea ports to private entities.”
“Because we were robust in our questioning on those matters, we are now being thrown out of the parliament and also not allowed to speak. This cannot continue and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis must understand that this will not continue. It is going to create confusion in our country here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas.
He said Speaker Perkins surely lacks the role and ability in facilitating democracy and allowing each side to participate freely in the debate to foster democratic values here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Dr. Douglas referred to the numerous excuses of Speaker Perkins of having the tendency to believe that if his eye sees someone on the government side rising or standing at the same time as a member of the opposition, “his cockeyed to the right, sees only the member for the government (on the left) and he will say ‘I saw your eye first, so I will let you speak.’
He said that maybe normal and acceptable when there are other opportunities to speak, noting that the mover of the bill, introduces it by speaking first and on the closing of the debate in trying to respond to the questions, queries or concerns raised.
Dr. Douglas said if the mover of the bill rises about the same time as opposition senator Nigel Carty, the Speaker ought to have allowed Carty to speak. Instead he prevented himself and Carty from making their presentations and allowed Hon. Ian Liburd to close the debate, even though there were still five members on the government side – Hon. Lindsay Grant, Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Hon. Vincent Byron and senators Wendy Phipps and Akilah Nisbett – still to speak.
“That is our contention. That is what we objected to,” said Dr. Douglas.
Photo 1 – Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Michael Perkins pictured as only seeing government parliamentarians at all times
Photo 2 – Opposition parliamentarians walking out
