By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSSETERRE, St.Kitts (JANUARY, 2018) –Efforts made by the Opposition Leader of the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, this week in the National Assembly, in attempting to clear his name amidst resignation rumours concerning dual citizen allegations fell short after a fall out with Speaker Michael Perkins resulted in him being labelled “totally out of order” with a five-day suspension.
Before being ejected from the House, the former Prime Minister, who is also the Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Six, rejected the rumour saying in part “I have not resigned and I shall never resign because there is quite a bit of work still to be done in advancing our country to the state where it was…”
This media house understands that such a rumour stemmed from the Government’s rehashed accusation that Dr. Douglas holds dual citizenship with the Commonwealth of Dominica, and is so disqualified as a member of Parliament because of a Constitutional violation.
Attorney General Vincent Byron informed in Parliament that day that legal proceedings have started in regard to this matter.
Notably, Dr. Douglas has repeatedly dismissed claims about dual citizenship by underscoring his loyalty to the Federation of St.Kitts-Nevis and its people.
“Let it also be known yet again that I do not, have never, and will never hold citizenship for any other country except my homeland of St.Kitts and Nevis,” was what he in part said in a media statement regarding what happened in Parliament that day.
In his opening statement on Tuesday 23rd January in the National Assembly, he said that as he approached the Parliament earlier that morning, he was approached by a reporter who asked him what he “thought then was an irrelevant question, and that is whether I had resigned from the National Assembly of St.Kitts and Nevis.”
Using the provision of the Personal Explanation item, Douglas attempted to make his statement but was met with opposition from Speaker Michael Perkins during a brief heated back and forth after Perkins warned him to “avoid getting into politics.”
Dr. Douglas had highlighted his political career over the years including being first elected to the House of Parliament to in 1989, reelected in 1993, again in 1995 yet again in 2000, yet again in 2004, yet again in 2010 and also most recently in February 2015.
“…and since then I have been not only sitting in this Parliament doing the work that the people of Constituency Six sent me here to do but I have also been pursuing the work of the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, and the work and services been given to the citizens of the country at home and abroad as the prime minister from 1995 until the year 2015,” the former Prime Minister said.
“Now that you’ve been allowed to make your personal statement, please be reminded that it should not be controversial; it should be speaking to matters that affect you personally outside of what transpires in Parliament. I’m following closely so please avoid getting into the politics…,” said Perkins to Douglas at one point.
Additionally, he warned him to “avoid the path you seem to be going down.”
Perkins added: “I agree that it is something you have the right to come here to clear and I believe you have done that by now.”
The Opposition Leader in continuing his presentation expressed his view that a strategy is being used to abuse the National Assembly.
Speaker Perkins soon after interrupted by highlighting standing order 49: 2 which addresses “any member who is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the National Assembly during the remainder of that day’s siting and may direct such steps to be taken as directed as a required to enforce this Standing Order.”
Citing another section of the Standing Order, Perkins claimed that he would have him (Douglas) removed if he did not comply with the order to leave.
In talking to Douglas he further claimed: “I repeatedly asked you to terminate your personal explanations and then I repeated please do not utter any other word once I’d given that direction which I did twice and you continued to speak beyond that direction and so I’m ordering you to withdraw form this National Assembly for the rest of the day.”
The Opposition Leader in response told the Speaker that his ruling is “unfair and unjust” whilst adding “I am aware that I am not wanted to be in this Parliament.”
In telling Douglas that he is “totally out of order!” the Speaker received the reply “I am not out of order!”
After leaving the National Assembly, Perkins said Douglas “is hereby named and is suspended from the service of this National Assembly and that suspension is for the next five days subject to correction. That suspension takes effect today and shall continue for five days.”