Last Updated on April 20, 2020, 5:03 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Member of Parliament for St Christopher 3 from the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Hon Konris Maynard on Sunday posted irrefutable evidence to show that the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government altered the text of a Resolution that was passed in the St Kitts and Nevis National Assembly on Friday 17 April 2020.
Statutory Rules and Order No 13 of 2020 imposed a six-month State of Emergency in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.
“In the dark of the night, after, I repeat, after, the National Assembly voted on it on Friday 17 April 2020, the Government altered the text of the approved version in the dark of night hoping no one would realize. This is unlawful and fraudulent,” said the West Basseterre parliamentarian in a FaceBook posting on Sunday.
“(The Government) cannot change the substance of anything passed in Parliament without going back to Parliament to amend it,” said Maynard, a first-term elected representative.
He pointed out that the printed S R & O (No. 13 of 2020) included suggestions made during the debate by him and other opposition parliamentarians, Hon Marcella Liburd and Hon Patrice Nisbett, but which were not put to the vote for approval.
“This has happened clearly due to a high level of incompetence from the Attorney General Vincent Byron Jr, lawyer and Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley and a very deceitful Prime Minister (Dr Timothy) Harris because they did not want to admit that we in the Opposition were right,” Maynard noted.
“All the talk that the State of Emergency can be up to 12 months, then changed to up to 6 months and that it can be for a shorter time as may be specified, was indeed unconstitutional,” Maynard said, providing evidence that the text of the Resolution approved in the House was altered in the printed and official SR & O No. 13 of 2020.
Maynard posted the original copy voted on by lawmakers on the government side in Parliament and opposed by the Opposition along with the altered (SR & O) copy. He highlighted in green what was legitimately amended in Parliament:
‘twelve’ was changed to ‘six’.
However, what is highlighted in blue was changed by the Government AFTER the vote and after Parliament ended.
*’up to’ has been changed to ‘for.’
**’17th’ changed to ’18th.’
What is highlighted in red has been deleted by the Government AFTER the vote and after Parliament ended.
***’as may be specified’ and ‘or such shorter period as may be specified’ have been deleted.
Thus, the critical clause of the Resolution has been changed
from:
NOW THEREFORE be it hereby resolved by this National Assembly that it is necessary to extend the State of Emergency up to a period of six months or such shorter period as may be specified, to take effect from the 17th day of April 2020, to combat the threat of COVID-19 virus to the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis.
to:
NOW THEREFORE be it hereby resolved by this National Assembly that it is necessary to extend the State of Emergency for a period of six months, to take effect from the 18th day of April 2020, to fight the threat of COVID-19 virus to the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis.
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.
