PM Douglas says he expects parliamentarians to show maturity

National Assembly – October 24th 2007

ST. KITTS, MARCH 3, 2010 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas (Labour- St. Christopher 6) said Tuesday that he expects a certain level of maturity in the conduct of the affairs of the National Assembly in the election of a Deputy Speaker at the opening of a new session of the lawmaking body next week.

Responding to a question on his weekly radio call in programme “Ask the Prime Minister,” Dr. Douglas pointed out that, as was the case during the recent parliamentary term of 2004 to 2009, the Deputy Speaker will have to come from the opposition benches.

“I believe that when the time comes, the Parliament (National Assembly) will not only elect a Speaker, but also will be a Deputy Speaker. It is the Members of Parliament who elect or will fill these two positions when this exercise is conducted,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He noted that the Deputy Speaker during the Parliamentary Term of 2004 to 2009 came from the opposition benches with the election of Hon. Patrice Nisbett (NRP- Nevis 11) as all the members on the Government Side were Members of the Cabinet. Mr. Nisbett is now the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.

“This is not anything that is new and that is why I said that I hope that people are able to look at the work of the Parliament that has to do with some measure of maturity and stop playing childish politics and get on with the business of conducting the affairs of the country from Parliament,” Prime Minister Douglas told the caller.

He said there are some who believe that Parliament is a game to go to the lawmaking body on the 10th March and do not have a Deputy Speaker.

“It is the members of the Parliament who will elect both a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mark Brantley (CCM-Nevis 9) is on record of vowing to work with the Government in addressing issues of national interest and to advance the people’s agenda.