Basseterre, St. Kitts (CUOPM) — A live radio call in programme initiated by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is celebrating its sixth anniversary.
“On this date in 2008, the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas made his first appearance on the programme called ‘Ask the Prime Minister,’ said host Erasmus Williams, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis during today’s programme – the 248th edition.
Williams told radio listeners to the programme, which is syndicated live simultaneously on ZIZ Radio, Kyss FM and Choice FM every Tuesday morning and rebroadcast on Freedom FM on Wednesday afternoon that “Ask the Prime Minister,” is another important policy initiative of the Denzil L. Douglas St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration and the Prime Minister himself remains committed to a consultative approach to government in its policy of transparency, good governance and accountability.
“The programme affords listeners the opportunity to call in and ask Prime Minister Douglas questions and make comments and suggestions. In the absence of the Prime Minister, the programme airs with pre-recorded statements made by the Prime Minister, other Cabinet ministers and persons,” said Williams, who noted that the first host of the programme was Miss Wanda Connor.
The 248th edition on Tuesday featured remarks by Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information Technology, Sports and Posts, the Hon. Glen Phillip at the recent opening of the new Dieppe Bay Post Office, the remarks Mr. Linkon Maynard, Chair of the Manufacturing Division of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce and prominent lawyer, Dr. Henry Stogumber Browne, Q.C., and the Hon. Marcella Liburd, Minister of Health, Community and Social Development and Gender Affairs and Culture at a recent “Conversations for Progress” at the St. Johnston Community Center.
The other programmes of good governance, transparency, and accountability include
– “Face to Face” which allows the Prime Minister and all his Ministers to sit in a Town Hall setting and field questions from persons in the audience, via the telephone or the internet.
– The current series “Conversations for Progress.”
– The Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference,
– The Post Cabinet Briefings, which informs of the issues discussed and the decisions taken in the Cabinet.
– More regular meetings of the National Assembly.
– Live television coverage of the National Assembly meetings. Prior to July 1995, it was only broadcast on radio.
– Live Streaming of important programmes
– the National Consultation on the Economy,
– the establishment of the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM),
– the establishment of the CUOPM Website – www.cuopm.com
– The Prime Minister’s Constituency clinics at Saddlers and St. Paul’s and the consultation with stakeholders on draft legislation before passage in the lawmaking body
– Prime Minister Douglas also meets regularly with ordinary persons and the business community
– Meetings with nationals in cities overseas where there is a significant number of nationals residing.
“On behalf of the programme I salute and thank all those who have participated in the programme by asking questions, making suggestions and being of being critical and a constructive and decent manner. I also salute the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas for his continued commitment and dedication to the programme for the past six years,” said Williams
“Ask the Prime Minister,” was recently hailed by Barbados’ Nation newspaper in an editorial as “one of the Caribbean’s best model of government keeping connected with the people.”