Row over budget response by St Kitts-Nevis opposition

A row has broken out in St Kitts and Nevis over parliament’s decision not to allow the leader of the opposition extra time to complete his response to the budget.

Denzil Douglas, who observers said was interrupted more than 50 times during his statement, requested more time but Prime Minister Harris instead called for a vote on the matter – which the speaker agreed to.

Members of the government voted against him being given additional speaking time, while the opposition was for the move.

Speaker Michael Perkins offered an extra five minutes but Douglas declined, stating that this would not be enough time.

A press release from the prime minister’s press office stated that the leader of the opposition had “squandered” his time to respond and “became embroiled in a number of irrelevant issues.”

Two other opposition politicians – MP Konris Maynard and Senator Nigel Carty – were also refused additional time.

Radio pundits covering the budget criticised the decision but Mark Brantley, foreign affairs minister, defended the decision.

“If it was that the minister of finance had spoken for three or four hours, the first person to respond on the opposition benches would have had that equal time but having had that equal time there is no provision that would allow him or her to seek additional time in the way in which it was attempted earlier.”