BASSETERRE, ST KITTS – After 18 months in office, the three-party coalition government of Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris is yet to keep its promise to repeal several pieces of legislation passed by the previous St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government of the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, “Nothing has been done to put the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) monies into the Consolidated Fund as they promised to do.
Another breach of their many promises to fool the people of St Kitts and Nevis,” said Liburd, who also referred to Team Unity Manifesto which states on the inside cover that Prime Minister Harris, will provide a monthly stipend of EC$500 in family support grants to each household earning EC$3,000 or less per month.
“People had their hopes high, and they are still waiting after nearly 18 months in office,” said Liburd.
She noted that on page 43 of the manifesto, the Harris Government promised to review the powers of senators in the National Assembly.
“When are we going to get that bill before,” asked Liburd, noting that the reason given is that ‘un-elected senators have been given excessive power in government, often to the exclusion of the people’s representative thereby reducing accountability.’
“This is Team Disunity,” said Liburd, pointing specifically to the outright full ministerial powers given to by Prime Minister Harris to the unelected Senator, Hon Wendy Phipps, who has total control and administration of the health sector, although the Hon. Eugene Hamilton, an elected MP, is the Minister of Health.
“So what are they saying about Wendy Phipps or Sen. Vincent Byron? This is classic as this is what is happening now where Wendy Phipps, an unelected senator has more powers than the Minister of Health, Eugene Hamilton, who is elected by the people. She is the Junior Minister, but she is really the Senior Minister,” said Liburd.
She noted that the promise on page 44 to ‘pass laws to ensure the proper functioning of the Public Accounts Committee’ is yet to be fulfilled.
“When are we going to get that draft law to debate in this parliament? Its 18 months and to date there is no Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as called for in the Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis. There is no oversight of government spending as there is no Public Accounts Committee,” Liburd reiterated.
She also lashed out at the Harris Government for not putting in place the new regulations for the Integrity in Public Life Act and for failing to have the second reading, debate and passage of the legislation for a prime minister to serve only two terms.
“They came to Parliament one year ago to have the first reading and nothing else has been heard,” said Liburd.
The Harris Government has also failed to repeal the Land for Debt Initiative passed by the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Government to reduce the national debt, make persons on the Peoples Employment Programme (PEP) permanent, pass the Freedom of Information Act, institute campaign finance reform and provide equal access to state-owned media to all political parties.