St. Kitts Assembly to debate separation of Nevis today

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Wednesday, October 15, 2003

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: To separate or not? That's the question St. Kitts and Nevis legislators will try to answer this morning as debate on a motion opposing the separation of Nevis from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis continues in the National Assembly. 

Although the motion recognises the entitlement of the people of Nevis to exercise their constitutional right as enshrined in Section 113 of the Constitution, it recommends that the best way forward to resolving the political differences between the two Islands is through the achievement of a new constitutional relationship which will establish a true federal system along the lines recommended by the Sir Fred Phillips' Commission.

The motion was first introduced during the 18th September sitting of the lawmaking body and is expected to be passed and "come into force immediately." It was introduced by Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Mr. Delano Bart. 

Contributions on the motion have already come from Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Constituency # 8 Parliamentary Representative, Mr. Cedric Liburd on the Government Side and from the Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Premier of Nevis, Mr. Malcolm Guishard.

The motion especially notes that the people of Nevis rejected the separation of Nevis from St. Kitts in a referendum in 1998 and that the National Assembly also passed a resolution expressing its opposition to the secession of Nevis from St. Kitts in 1998. 

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