Last Updated on December 2, 2019, 9:05 AM AST by Anthony Morris
There is a widespread view that “The Constitution of St Christopher and Nevis (Tenure of Office of the Prime Minister) (Amendment) Bill, 2019” which was defeated in St Kitts and Nevis National Assembly on Friday night targeted the Federation’ former prime minister and current Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas.
“It is a very very stupid move to put term limits on the office of prime minister for the nation. It is ridiculously petty and shortsighted move, and is only historic in the astronomical level of sheer spite behind it, just like 99.99999% of all the moves done thus far, and layered in sprinkles to fool those who choose to be fooled. I feel very strongly about this, and was trying to not comment on it, but it seems as though I must to make my stance as clear as possible,” said medical practitioner, Dr Jenson Staurt Morton.
“This act is just the current regime’s latest anti-Douglas attack, to try and limit his ability to rule the land. Their attacks on this lone gentleman have been so multiple that it is near pathetic what they continue to do. The law, if enacted, will not affect Douglas because it won’t be able to be retroactive without a very fierce court battle, which I hope they are prepared for if they dare this boldness. But nonetheless laws should not be made in this manner – with an underlying venom masked in fake virtuosity,” said Morton, who made it clear that his preferred choice of government is not currently in office and is not in favour of the current prime minister.
“However, if he is duly elected by the majority of persons in his constituency and is further chosen as leader of the country, he should have the ability to run and become prime minister as many times as he is elected and able to. To limit otherwise is an immense stifling of democracy rather than improving it,” said Morton, who interned at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
“My views go well beyond Labour and the present day, just in case one makes that mistake in judgment,” said Morton, who furtrher opined that term limits are not the answer to reduce corruption. “The answer lies in ensuring the electoral process is free and fair and also lies in ensuring that unfair advantages of an incumbent are limited. Controlling those two factors would do far more to improve our democracy than this garbage,” Dr Morton added.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
