Deputy Prime Minister Condor’s opposition to bills led to his removal as Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, PM Douglas says

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 16TH 2013 (CUOPM) – Opposition to bills by Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sam Condor, is responsible for his removal as Leader of Government Business in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Tuesday night.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Representative for Nevis 9, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, is the new Leader of Government of Government Business.

Speaking on the adjournment of the lawmaking body, Prime Minister Douglas commended the Deputy Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 3 “for the services he has provided to this Parliament as the Leader of Government Business for several years.”

He said the change was done “without any rancour, but with a complete understanding and to relieve the Deputy Prime Minister of any possible conflict of interests.”

Dr. Douglas said that after consultation with his colleagues, he thought it necessary to advise the Deputy Prime Minister that his appointment as the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, would have been revisited.

“I made sure that before this was sent to him in writing, that I spoke to him in person by telephone in order to ensure that the information was received in the early evening,” said Dr. Douglas. A letter was later sent electronically and hard copy.

“I want to say that the Deputy Prime Minister has served for quite a long time, but served, I would say with distinction. But I must point out as I indicated in the correspondence to him, that in recent times it had become problematic for the Government to have had someone leading in the framing of important matters that are to come to the Parliament, and who had expressed very, very clearly and openly that he was not in support of those matters which were to come to our Parliament. I think it is only natural and especially since it was providing a conflict of interest for the Deputy Prime Minister, to have relieved him of the responsibility of Leader of Government Business in the House,” Dr. Douglas explained.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs and Leader of Government Business in the National Asembly, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett (photos by Erasmus Williams)

“On behalf of this side, on behalf of all my colleagues, I wish to say again to register our deep appreciation for the services that he has rendered,” said Dr. Douglas.

He informed the National Assembly that after consultation the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs has been appointed the new Leader of Government Business.

“I think that from the position where he sits, he would be the person who would be engaged actively in determining the legislative agenda of the Cabinet. He can do it also administratively, using his own Ministry to support what happens in Parliament. He would be the fittest person to take on this new role and responsibility,” Prime Minister Douglas said.

“I want to ask my colleagues to give him full support as he takes on this generous task of ensuring that the Governments’ business in the Parliament is being preceded expeditiously.”