Nevis to seek Treaty of Friendship with St Kitts

Saturday, January 24, 2004

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Nevis will push for its constitutionally provided move to seek independence and at the same time seek to renew its call for a treaty of friendship with St. Kitts at the roundtable meeting to discuss the St. Kitts and Nevis relations.

The Federation's Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas, has arranged the roundtable meeting for Thursday January 29 in Basseterre, following discussions between him and the Premier of Nevis, Mr Vance Amory and the Leader of Opposition in the Federal Parliament, Mr Malcolm Guishard.

Premier Amory said on Thursday that they have agreed to participate in the roundtable meeting and will make clear the position of the Nevis Island Administration that they have clearly articulated and made a decision that the best way forward for the people of Nevis is to seek independence under the Constitution of the Federation.

He said that following discussions that have been held with stakeholders in Nevis, some people had admitted that provided that there could be a treaty of friendship between St. Kitts and Nevis that they have no objections to Nevis seeking independence.

In this respect, Premier Amory stated: "Our position at the roundtable is that we will redefine the state of this issue, and we shall make it quite clear that we are doing so in accordance with provisions of the Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis."

He however said that the administration was still in the process of educating the people to make sure that they are fully apprised and that they fully understood all of the implications of the way forward for the independence of Nevis. After the dialogue with the people is complete, the second reading of the independence bill would be tabled in the Nevis Island Assembly.

Meanwhile, in response to a release by the US embassy in Bridgetown Barbados, Premier Amory said he respected the right of the United States government to make the statement and express their concern but more so to the fact that they have recognised that there is the right of the people of Nevis under the constitution for them to seek to be independent. 

The US Department of State release of January 16, 2004 by Mr Richard Boucher, had stated that while the United States recognised Nevisians' constitutional right to invoke Clause 113 of the Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis, that it "unequivocally supports the position taken by CARICOM Heads of Government at their July 2003 Summit in Montego Bay, when they voiced their strong preference for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to be preserved as a single nation." 

Premier Amory said that once his administration explains fully the status of the relationship between St. Kitts and Nevis and how the people of Nevis generally are not included in the whole process of policy making in the region, then people will get to understand that it is because of the way the Constitution has been structured that Nevis is being treated that way. 

"We are not really an important entity," commented the Premier. "But we have a significant role to play in providing employment for our people, making sure that there are services in health and education, that the roads and infrastructure are in good condition, which is the responsibility of the people of Nevis."

He explained that Nevis needs its independence for it to be part of the whole process of integration in the Caribbean. "I and the administration, we have no quarrel with their wanting to preserve the integrity of the region. We are not going anywhere," he said. "We certainly would want to be part of the OECS and Caricom provided the people vote 'yes'."

As for procedures to be followed for Nevis to become member of the organisation, Premier Amory noted: "We are prepared to follow those procedures and in our financial projections we are making some provisions for the cost of membership in international organisations."

The Premier observed that the people need to appreciate that as Nevis respects the comment which United States government has made from its embassy, that they also respect the expressions of Caricom heads, but he said that it is the people of Nevis who would have to make the determination that would not cause any detriment nor any harm to the region.

"As a matter of fact it can be easily said that we could even enhance or add the number of votes which the Caribbean block will have internationally and that we will then be able to make our contribution at any meetings and regional discussions, expressing what the people of Nevis feel on this issue," commented Premier Amory.  

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