Last Updated on May 14, 2020, 9:57 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The parliament of St Kitts and Nevis dissolved on May 13, 2020. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris made the announcement regarding the dissolution of the assembly on a national broadcaster.
Prime Minister stated that the parliament was already dissolved a day prior to the public annoucement. The leader indicated that he had already informed the Governor-General Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton. However,the public annoucement was made a day later.
The first sitting of the house was observed on May 14,2020 after Team Unity won elections in February of the same year.
The dissolution of the parliament was not a joint decision.According to internal sources, most of the government ministers including Lindsay Grant, Mark Brantley and any others were unaware of this decision and felt betrayed as Dr Timothy Harris did not take any suggestion from them.
Dr Timothy Harris was chosen as the Prime Minister despite the fact that his People’s Labour Party only holds one seat in the parliament.
The leader has been dominating the Team Unity since it came in power in 2015. The party is an alliance of People’s Labour Party (PLP), People’s Action Movement (PAM) and Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM).
Mark Brantley who is the leader of Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and currently serving as the Premiere of Nevis was not made party of the decision of dissolving the parliament.
Dr Timothy Harris himself took the action without consulting prominent members of party like Mark Brantley, Lindsay Grant. These leaders are now upset with Dr Harris.
Furthermore, St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party have been long awaiting for Dr Timothy Harris to dissolve the parliament of the country as the government had completed its five years in the second week of February 2020.
A protest was also held in Bassettere in which a large number of people of St Kitts and Nevis came out on streets to demand Team Unity to ring the bell of elections.
However, even after the dissolution of the parliament, no date for general elections is given by Dr Timothy Harris. It is expected that he would annouce the date without taking any consultations from his colleague party members.
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.
