Statement of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis

Fellow Citizens, the Rule of Law is alive and well in the Federation.

PAM took this Government to Court and the allegations they made against the Government were rejected by the Court.

The Claimants, the Honourable Shawn Richards and Lindsay Grant alleged that their rights under sections 3 and 10 of the Constitution and the actions of my Government were in breach of their rights to free and fair elections and the protection of the law.

These allegations were all rejected by the Honourable Court.

In short no action of my Government denied them the right to free and fair elections.

No action of my Government denied them the protection of the law.

Let me repeat, the Honourable Court also rejected that allegation.

They further claimed that they had a right to be heard and consulted.

The Honourable Court also rejected this allegation and expressly ruled that the Claimants Honourable Shawn Richards and Lindsay Grant “have no right to be heard or consulted in the making of recommendations by the Commission and even if they had, it was waived by their refusal to take part in the Electoral Reform Process”.

PAM argued strenuously that the Chairman of the Commission ought not to have given me a copy of the Report before submitting it to the Governor General but His Lordship the Honourable Justice Thomas rejected this allegation by treating it as being insignificant.

My Government will continue to abide and follow the Rule of Law.

The rejection of PAM’s allegations by the Court demonstrates that all along PAM, spearheaded by the Honourable Shawn Richards and Lindsay Grant, was seeking to delay the calling of the General Elections given their state of unreadiness for the elections.

It is important to note that, even now, the second injunction obtained by PAM prevents the calling of General Elections.

My Government will continue to obey the law and honour our oath to uphold the Constitution.

The Attorney-General and the Legal Team are now in consultations on the way forward.

October 19, 2009