By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (Thursday 14th July 2022) — Leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Premier Mark Brantley — a trained lawyer — says any attempt to disobey the constitutional provision requiring elections to be held within — not over — 90 days after any dissolution of parliament “will be met with the full force of the law.” Appearing on his weekly ‘On The Mark’ show on VON Radio on Wednesday 13th July 2022, Brantley addressed PM Harris who is authorised to set a date for the upcoming general election.
“Today, I was alarmed to learn that Dr. Harris and his team, fighting desperately as they are to cling on by their fingernails, have decided that despite the constitutional provision that makes it pellucid that an election must happen within — hear my language because it is the language of the constitution — an election must happen within ninety (90) days,” Brantley said. He pointed to section 48(1) of the constitution: “A general election of members of the National Assembly shall be held at such time within 90 days after any dissolution of parliament as the Governor General may appoint.” He noted parliament was dissolved on May 10th, meaning the 90-day clock started from that date.
“The constitution is clear. It is not written in any language that is subject to any misinterpretation. If you must do something within a particular period, you can’t seek to go outside that period. It didn’t say that the date for an election must be announced within 90 days — no. It says the election must happen within those 90 days. A long time ago I spent some time behind the school house door learning to be a lawyer; some say that I was a good lawyer, and my sobriquet in politics is ‘The Sheriff.’ What is ‘The Sheriff’ known for? Maintaining law and order. And if there is any attempt to flout the provisions of the constitution, it will be met with the full force of the law.”