SKN PRIME MINISTER DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT; FIRES DISSENTING CABINET MINISTERS
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris has dissolved the twin-island Federation’s Parliament and fired the six Ministers who signed the motion of no-confidence against him, including Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards. Dr Harris made the announcement during his national address this afternoon, in the latest twist in a fraught political saga which has gripped his three-party Team Unity coalition. The embattled Dr Harris has also reassigned the portfolios held by the six ministers to the other five ministers in his cabinet. Eugene Hamilton, the only member of the People’s Action Movement who did not sign the motion of no-confidence, has been appointed deputy prime minister. Hamilton had earlier indicated he will not be contesting the next general election.
Meanwhile, Dr Harris says he will announce the date for general elections soon. He has been facing mounting pressure from within his coalition as simmering angst and discontent escalated into political mutiny. The motion of no-confidence was preceded by a letter written to the Governor General by the disaffected members, indicating Dr Harris should be removed as Prime Minister since he did not have the support of the majority of legislators. The Governor General responded he had no such power under the Federal Constitution.
There has yet been no response to the Prime Minister’s announcement from Richards who heads the People’s Action Movement or Mark Brantley, who heads the Concerned Citizens Movement.