By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (FEBRUARY 2018)-If opposition parliamentarian for Constituency Three (West Basseterre) Hon. Konris Maynard is of the view that he has been illegally suspended for ten (10) days from Parliament then why was he a no show at Wednesday’s (21st February) sitting presided over by Speaker Hon. Michael Perkins?

Such line of questioning was put to him by this reporter following a protest demonstration, organised by the Opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, held that day going about Church Street in Basseterre where Government Headquarters is housed.

“Although his (the Speaker) suspension is illegal, we still have to follow rules and procedures until someone, either himself or a court determines that the suspension was invalid, I will abide by his ruling.”

Maynard continued: “I am a lawful citizen and a lawful member of Parliament. So although I disagree, although I believe it is unlawful, because he has made the ruling and because he is Speaker, I will abide by the ruling until otherwise directed either by him who changes his ruling or by court that his ruling was null and void so there is no need for me to breach already established positions when perhaps that’s what they want me to do in any event and so that is why it was necessary for my colleagues to stand with me today not only for my case but for the case of the two member who weren’t allowed to speak in Parliament. That is why it was important for us to show solidarity in protest.”

He has thanked those individuals who “in very short order came out to protest these illegal undemocratic and unlawful actions of our Speaker.”

The notice for the protest was given the night before (Tuesday) at the Party’s town hall meeting which was held at OOJJ’s Conference Centre located in the Camps community in West Basseterre.

“Last evening, we called a very short notice town hall meeting…and we had a packed and overflowing house. I really didn’t expect that so many persons would have come out in such a short order but it tells us that our comrades support the positions that we’ve taken, that although we’re in opposition, we expect that democracy will be preserved and they have come out in support to show that they are with us in terms of preserving our democracy so to see them coming out today again and giving the type of support in the middle of the day on a working day is really, really good; it tells us that the appetite is there to ensure that no one tramples on our democracy and they are with us and we’re with them,” Maynard said.

In a letter dated 15th February 2018 sent to the Speaker, he (Maynard) officially shared his concerns pointing to the unlawfulness of the suspension and the violation of the Standing Order. However, in the words of Dr. Douglas the “Speaker in his arrogance said he wishes to uphold his order with regard to the suspension.”

The episode in question which has resulted in Maynard’s suspension took place on Tuesday 13th February, during a sitting of Parliament after opposition members including Maynard, Opposition Leader Hon. Dr. Douglas and Senator Nigel Carty walked out of that session as a show of protest after Douglas (the Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Six) and Carty did not get an opportunity to give their presentations in relation to The St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports (Amendment) Bill, moved and closed off by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Transport Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd.

Dr. Douglas, in speaking to supporters outside Masses House on Church Street following this week’s protest, stated that such a bill “that can end with the airport and sea port being sold then naturally that affects the lives of the people of St.Kitts and Nevis that has to be debated.”

“People elected members to Parliament, some of them from the government, some of them from the Opposition. If the government gives its side to debate on that bill then the opposition must be allowed to give its side and that was what Konris was in fact speaking out against…..and because he did that, he was suspended and he said it was illegal and unjust,” he further remarked.

Party Chairperson and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Two (Central Basseterre) Hon. Marcella Liburd was frequently vocal throughout the protest exercise which went on for more than 30 minutes.

Words shouted by her included: “Parliament without a debate just to shut up the opposition! The opposition must have no say and so the Speaker colludes with the government in Parliament with no public business! It is disrespectful to the public! The public sent us there to do their business and they are holding parliament with no public business!”

Information reaching this media house indicates that Hon. Patrice Nisbett, who had assembled with his colleagues and supporters at the meeting point for the protest outside Masses House, was the only opposition parliamentarian who attended this week’s session.