Basseterre - Dec. 1, 2011 - St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. The Right Hon. Denzil L. Douglas says he is committed improve the electoral framework in the twin-island Federation.

Responding to areas that could be improved in the Report from the CARICOM Observer Group that monitored the Nevis Island Assembly Elections last July, Prime Minister Douglas said he will do “whatever is necessary legislatively, financially, politically, whatever is necessary, to ensure that there is improvement of that framework so that our elections can be considered to be fair and fairer and to be free from fear at all times.”

“I have no problem with that at all. It is one of the commitments I have given to myself. All of the reforms that we have lead and have been lead under my watch. It is true that there might be certain areas that need to be improved. The observers have identified them and they shall be worked on,” said Prime Minister Douglas during Tuesday’s radio call in programme “Ask the Prime Minister.”

He said the Nevis Island Assembly elections in July have been deemed to be free and fair as that has been the conclusion from all the observers - regional and international - who observed the elections in Nevis.

“There might have been some areas where questions were being raised. People being turned away from the polls, is not unusual in an election. In all elections around the world, if your name is not on the Voters List, naturally you must be turned away. You cannot expect to vote if your name is not on the Voters List,” Dr. Douglas pointed out.

“The fact that we can speak on the Report at this time is a clear indication that the Government is transparent, it open it, has a proper accountability for what has taken place and as is expected for any free country, every single individual who feels that he has been disenfranchised has the right to go to the High Court,” Dr. Douglas told the caller from VON Radio on Nevis.

He noted that one of the results of the election has been challenged, Dr. Douglas said: “In fact that is exactly what has happened. As far as I know, it was just last week, the matter was in fact in the High Court. This is democracy at work.”

“If you have a problem, you found that you were not able to vote and you think you have the right to vote, take the matter to the Court. That is what is exactly being observed at this particular time,” Dr. Douglas said.

“We will improve upon the specific areas that have identified for concerns from the Observers who came here. We have always had Reports and we are always cognizant of the contents of the Reports and will always make the necessary adjustments and improvements wherever it is necessary,” he reiterated.

“We shall continue to do whatever is necessary legislatively and otherwise to improve the electoral framework within which our people conduct their right to vote on Election Day, whether it is a local Nevis Island Assembly election or a general Federal Election,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister.

“I have nothing whatsoever to fear about that. Whatever are the electoral problems we shall seek to fix them,” said Dr. Douglas, who added:

“When people want me or the Government to fix things for their own party political favour, it’s not going to happen, that is not how it works. It has to be fixed to the fairness of all parties.”

He said that as Prime Minister of St. Kitts and current CARICOM Chairman “we again thank the CARICOM personnel who came here and they can be assured and I have already assured them, that we shall do whatever is necessary for the improvement of the polls in St. Kitts and Nevis and in the polls in every country around the Caribbean Region.”    

Erasmus Williams
TeL: 869-465-9698;  sknpmpresssec@hotmail.com