Tweet

Premier – 10 years, it was a commitment he made

By Monique Washington

 

(St.Kitts-Nevis Observer Newpaper) The Premier of Nevis the Hon. Mark Brantley  has expressed that there is nothing wrong with a comment the Prime Minister the Hon. Dr Timothy Harris made about serving the people of the nation for 10 years. He explained it was  just one of the  commitments Team Unity made before taking office.

Brantley was addressing the media Tuesday (May 29) during his monthly press conference and noted that that the Prime Minister will have two term tenure providing Team Unity wins the next election.

The question from a media personal came after Dr. Harris, during an open forum in Tabernacle, said that he will be giving the people 10 years of service.

Team Unity, which is an alliance of the three major parties in St Kitts and Nevis,  was launched in 2013. Amongst their many pledges to the people of the country, was one which is to implement term limits for the Prime Minister.

“This is a departure of what was. Because certainly prior to him we had a Prime Minister for 20 years and prior to him we had one for 12 years. The truth is, this is his commitment that Unity said. So he is saying that he will do 10 years.

“I see nothing wrong with that. It is consistent with the position that Unity had. Certain tenets that we agreed to and that were one of them. Any one individual will not be allowed to go beyond two terms which is 10 years,” he said.

The two term policy is currently a Party policy.  But in February of this year during  a Nation Assembly sitting there was First reading  of Constitution of St. Christopher and Nevis tenure of office of Prime Minister Amendment Bill 2018”which endeavours to limit any one person two terms as Prime Minister .

The bill in short reads:  “A person who is appointed Prime Minister under the Constitution shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, hold office for a term of five years”; and “A person shall not be appointed to hold office as Prime Minister for more than two terms as prescribed by this section.”

If team Unity is  re-elected for a third term the current Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Shawn Richards will take the helm as Prime Minister.