St Kitts-Nevis parliament dissolved

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) — The St Kitts and Nevis parliament was dissolved on Friday at the request of Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas.

Douglas said he has advised Governor General Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence to dissolve parliament with immediate effect and that the dates for nomination day and polling day will be announced later.

He made the announcement following an emergency sitting of the National Assembly that saw the passage of a resolution paving the way for the governor-general to sign a proclamation that would bring into effect revised electoral boundaries whenever parliament is dissolved.

Douglas told parliament that the Constituency Boundaries Commission, which has been meeting since mid 2012, had finalized its report.

Section 50 of the constitution outlines the process that is to be followed to give effect to proposed electoral boundaries.

Section 50(3) states:

As soon as may be after the Commission has submitted a report under subsection (1)(a), the Prime Minister shall lay before the National Assembly for its approval the draft of a proclamation by the Governor-General for giving effect, whether with or without modifications, to the recommendations contained in the report, and that draft proclamation may make provisions for any matters that appear to the Prime Minister to be incidental to or consequential upon the other provisions of the draft.

(4) Where any draft proclamation laid before the National Assembly gives effect to any recommendations of the Commission with modifications, the Prime Minister shall lay before the Assembly together with the draft a statement of the reason for the modifications.

(5) If the motion for the approval of any draft proclamation laid before the National Assembly under subsection (3) is rejected by the Assembly, or is withdrawn by leave of the Assembly, the Prime Minister shall amend the draft and lay the amended draft before the Assembly.

(6) If any draft proclamation laid before the National Assembly under subsection (3) or (5) is approved by a resolution of the Assembly, the Prime Minister shall submit it to the Governor-General who shall make a proclamation in terms of the draft; and that proclamation shall come into force upon the next dissolution of Parliament after it is made.”

Douglas read into the minutes of the Assembly the draft proclamation, which was not amended.