Dates For Nomination Day and Election Day To Be Announced
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 15, 2009 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas announced Tuesday night the dissolution of the 11-seat Federal Parliament, paving the way for general elections by March 2010.
“I have today, in accordance with Section 47, Subsection 4 of The Constitution of St. Christopher & Nevis, advised His Excellency the Governor General, Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, to dissolve the Parliament of St. Christopher & Nevis with immediate effect, in order that we may prepare the way for the general elections that we have all been so eager to hold,” said Dr. Douglas in a nationwide radio and television address.
No date for Nomination Day and Election Day were announced.
“Let me put in context yet another charge being promoted by the (opposition) PAM ““ namely, that my Government is reluctant to hold elections based on the current boundaries. The people of St. Kitts and Nevis have delivered massive victories to the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party based on these boundaries. In addition, the dramatic transformations in the physical, economic, social, and political infrastructure of our nation by Labour have impressed upon the voters of St. Kitts and Nevis the competence, the effectiveness, and the social and economic progress that successive Labour administrations have delivered,” said Dr. Douglas.
Dr. Douglas said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government had no reluctance, and has no reluctance, in going to the polls on the existing boundaries.
“There was an inequity to be fixed, we had determined that we would do all in our power to fix it in the best interest of our nation, and that is what we were committed to do,” Dr. Douglas said.
The Prime Minister announced that the Commonwealth, Caricom, and OAS have accepted his invitation to observe the national elections. “It is my fervent hope that when the Commonwealth Expert Team comes in to observe the elections, there will be no “blame game” on the part of PAM,” said Dr. Douglas.