BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 14TH 2009 (CUOPM) St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Wednesday night that the National Assembly will automatically dissolve on December 16th as the twin-island Federation awaits the ruling of constitutional matters now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
He said until the elections are called the work of the Government goes on. Our responsibilities to the people are being met - and will continue to be met; and the growth and stability of our beloved country remains my Governments most sacred priority, said Prime Minister Douglas in a nationwide radio and television broadcast carried by most radio stations.
As you know, we are now in the fifth year since our last election. Because the Constitution anticipated that, by this time, the country would be in election mode, it has made provisions for the automatic dissolution of Parliament on December 16th of this year. All that this means, however, is that Parliament will no longer meet on a routine basis for the passing of laws. Instead, Parliament will meet on matters of national importance, if and when, in accordance with the provisions of Section 47(5) of the Constitution, the Governor General authorizes them to do so, at the request of the Prime Minister, said Prime Minister Douglas.
He pointed out that although many fail to make the distinction, the Parliament and the Government are not one and the same. Under the St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution, even after the dissolution of Parliament, the Government still continues to ensure that the interests of the nation are protected and the publics business attended to, until the holding of elections just as it has when Parliaments have been dissolved before.
Ministers of Government will continue meeting their ministerial responsibilities. And Government departments and agencies will continue functioning, just as before, because the Constitution, fully expects, and indeed requires, that the nations business continue to be taken care of, said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government accepts, and indeed honors, the independence of the Judiciary.
An independent Judiciary is, after all, an important cornerstone of all modern democracies. However, it is also a fact that the cases brought before the Court are quite different from the average case before the Courts where two or more private entities are in conflict. The bringing of these cases has a direct bearing on a number of Constitutional matters which would affect not me, as a private individual, and not the plaintiffs in their personal and individual capacities. Instead, these cases have a direct bearing, as I have said, on the procedures via which Parliament sits; the deadline by which, under ordinary circumstances, elections must be called; and a range of other Constitutionally-relevant issues, said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.
"In light of this, while I understand the care with which these cases must be reviewed by the Courts, as the democratically elected Prime Minister of this country, I hereby call on all parties to this process to place the interests of our nation above all else. And, again, it is my hope that the courts will be mindful of, and sensitive, to the fact that an entire nation and not private entities - has been respectfully awaiting its ruling, Dr. Douglas said.
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