Resign or be fired, says Douglas

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has called on two of his senior Cabinet ministers to either resign or be fired if they intend to vote against government policies and programmes.
“That is very, very constitutionally acceptable. In fact, it is the right of anyone in a political party or anyone who is not in a political party to demonstrate their interest in any political party that he/she wishes to be a part of.
“That is our democratic and fundamental right that we have given to us, under the constitution. That’s why we allow parties to be registered, to develop, flourish and to participate in elections at election time,” Dr Douglas said on his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister”.
In recent times, Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor and his senior Cabinet colleague, Dr. Timothy Harris have publicly opposed legislation brought by the ruling St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party government, including a bill to increase the number of senators in the legislative chamber.
Both senior Cabinet ministers, who have been blamed for not participating in Cabinet meeting where the national budget was being discussed, forcing the government to postpone its presentation last month, said they were adopting a principle position on the matter.
Dr. Douglas told listeners people who were voted into office on a Labour Party ticket and now wanting to move on do so at their own risk “because if they would have had discipline and allegiance to their own party, then they are free to move from their parties armpit and go into another party, then they are free to do that. (CMC)