St. Kitts Governor-General awaits ‘formal legal advice’ before acting on letter expressing no confidence in PM Harris

Harris, Brantley

Governor-General, Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton, said on Thursday he is awaiting “formal legal advice” before acting on an “undated” letter sent to him by seven government legislators indicating that they have no confidence in Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Timothy Harris.

Last week, Prime Minister Harris was given a deadline of Wednesday to resolve the issues facing the coalition Team Unity government or dissolve Parliament and pave the way for fresh general elections as the rift within the administration widened.

According to regional media reports, Nevis Premier and leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Mark Brantley, said that seven legislators had written to the Governor-General indicating that “Dr Timothy Harris does not command the support of the majority of elected members in the National Assembly.”

In a television broadcast on Saturday night, Brantley said Harris had done nothing to resolve the issues in the public domain regarding the government.

The coalition government comprises Harris’s People’s Labour Party (PLP), the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and Brantley’s CCM.

In the broadcast, Brantley said that he and PAM leader and Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards, had sent a joint letter to Harris giving him the Wednesday deadline and insisting that the coalition would not be used for the personal ambition of anyone individual.

“To this end and consistent with our own ongoing efforts to save our Team Unity government, the Honourable Shawn Richards and I have delivered written communication to the Honourable Prime Minister setting our position for a path forward,” Brantley said. “We have taken the unprecedented step of putting a deadline of Wednesday, April 20, 2022, for a response from the Prime Minister, barring which, we can only conclude that he and his team have no interest or desire to save this Team Unity government.” .

Harris, in an address, said issues confronting the government related to governance and transparency, a reassignment of ministerial duties, the external involvement of global financial institutions, and an increase in the operating budget of Nevis, were among matters on the agenda.

“The meeting was cordial as was the one held last week,” he said, noting that at the Thursday meeting he had proposed a framework “to address the issues raised.”

“This framework included the introduction of a code of conduct for the better functioning of the cabinet. I further proposed that all subject to greater accountability to the cabinet through regular reporting so that members may be better apprised of the workings of the entire government,” Harris revealed.

The St. Kitts PM expressed his commitment to undertake a review of the makeup of the cabinet in due course, with a view to improving the efficiency of the government as a whole.

During an address on Thursday, Harris stated that the country is and will remain stable.

“You are all aware that certain misgivings are in the public domain with respect to the issues raised by the Team Unity partners,” he continued. “I wish to assure you as your Prime Minister, that the country remains stable and every effort will be made to maintain the peace and tranquillity of our beloved Federation.”

Prime Minister Harris said he has taken steps to answer several issues raised by his political partners.

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6 Comments

  1. Lin clown
    April 25, 2022

    If you know that Jack Karl why are you continuing to bray?

  2. Grayson Stedman
    April 24, 2022

    To the Management of DNO, The Observer news paper of April 23rd, 2022 detailed 18 issues of concerns which the prime minister must address and respond. In the interest of the public and to inform all concern, suggest that you publish the full text of these 18 concerns.

  3. Tt
    April 24, 2022

    For the want of power, the nation was lost.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  4. JAH KAL
    April 23, 2022

    Show them Mr Brantley, those Yes Sir ministers we have in Dominica they have no Balls skerrit buy them and their family’s ,the women they have in there they a no different they can not say a word while skerrit taking Dominica down the gutter .

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
  5. My Bad
    April 22, 2022

    That’s good for Timothy Harris. I liked him and supported him until I realized he was one of the first OECS leaders to send police after us simply because we were standing for free and fair elections. He proved that he has the same corrupt heart like Skerrit and those other corrupt leaders

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 7
  6. John Charlton
    April 22, 2022

    “Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton” … just my opinion but, the days of the British Empire, Governor Generals, knighthoods, and high and mighty-sounding names such as this are long gone! Time to press the Delete button on all this presumptuous hocus pocus.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1

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