PM reacts to Privy Council ruling

(ZIZ News) — On Thursday morning, a day after the Privy Council met to consider the boundaries injunction matter, the British Law Lords overturned the decisions of the High Court and Caribbean Court of Appeal and reinstated an injunction preventing the electoral commission from moving forward with elections on February 16th on the boundaries passed in parliament on 19th January.

On Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas addressed the Nation on the decision of the UK-based court.

He said while the Court’s order for elections to proceed on unfair boundaries was unfortunate, it would not stop the boundaries being made fair at a later date.

“The English Law Lords have ordered the Electoral Commission to use the unfair and unequal boundaries in election which will take place on Monday 16th February 2015. While I firmly disagree with this interim injunction, we have to remember that it is only a temporary measure and the issue of permanently establishing fair boundaries will be decided on a future date,” he said.

Dr. Douglas said his Administration had all measures put in place to ensure that elections proceed smoothly next week.

He added that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis should exercise their right to vote on election day and show the Opposition that their legal manoeuvrings will not work

“The Labour government has prepared the country so that it has enough time to properly consider the matter and you the people of St. Kitts and Nevis can exercise your constitutional right in the ballot box on Monday. It is time for the people to show PAM that their legal tricks will not work. Labour supporters and the inspirational St. Kitts-Nevis Youth movement [SKNY] will all be at the polling stations on Monday and win this election for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Douglas explained.