PM Douglas Answers Questions From Callers
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
Janauary 14, 2009 (CUOPM)
“Ask the PM” hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is an outstanding example of transparency in government and true democracy in action.
So says Mr. Vernon Covington, a leading and active member of the St. Kitts – Nevis List moderated by Cayon-born Mr. Charles Mitcham.
“The Ask the PM radio shows in addition to the weekly police report publication is an outstanding example of transparency in government,” said Covington, adding: “Giving any person, the only requirement being access to a telephone, the ability to question the nation’s leader, is a privilege rarely if ever afforded the man on the street. True Democracy in action.
The one-hour “Ask the PM” debuted last October affords members of the general public, an opportunity to call in via the telephone or email and ask the Federation’s leader questions on variety of issues.
“Ask the Prime Minister,” is one of a series of ongoing programmes of transparency, good governance and accountability to interact with the people initiated by his St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party Government since it took office in July 1995.
The other programmes 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 Monthly Prime Minister’s Press Conference, the Post Cabinet Briefings, which informs of the issues discussed and the decisions taken in the Cabinet; Live Television coverage of the National Assembly meetings, the National Consultation on the Economy, the establishment of the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM), the establishment of the Prime Minister’s Website and the consultation with stakeholders on draft legislation before passage in the lawmaking body.
Prime Minister Douglas also meets frequently with members of non-governmental organisation.