Last Updated on May 16, 2020, 9:45 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Political Leader of St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, The Right Hon Dr Denzil Douglas has said Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris “lacks vision” when he repealed legislation allowing law enforcement officers and essential workers the opportunity to cast their ballots before Election Day.
“It is his lack of vision and foresight which he himself overturned since he (Dr Harris) became the prime minister. We had a law that allowed essential workers and essential service providers – the police officers, the soldiers in the Defence Force, the security guards and maybe the nurses, who were allowed to vote a few days before election day so that they can maintain security if necessary; and care for the sick and those who need medical attention before, during and after polling day. Dr Harris abandoned that law,” said Dr Douglas, former prime minister during his weekly call-in the programme “Ask the Leader” on Tuesday.
The National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2014, which provided for early voting prior to election day in February 2015 was passed on October 24, 2014.
The ‘Early Voting of Security Forces and Persons who Perform Essential Services (Procedure) Regulations SR&O No. 10 of 2015’ was published on February 05, 2015. In the 2015 general elections, early voting took place on Saturday, February 14, two days before the February 16 poll day.
Prime Minister Harris went to parliament on March 23, 2016, and passed the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that repealed the provisions which provided for security personnel and persons who perform essential services to vote prior to Election Day.
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.
