St Kitts-Nevis: In coming weeks, federal parliament to hold debate over critical bills

As the Federal Parliament of St Kitts and Nevis is all set to conclude its work on a number of critical Bills, the National Assembly of the twin-island nation is likely to hold the debate over those Bills in upcoming weeks

There are various Bills, which are likely to be discussed in the upcoming sessions, which includes the landmark Cannabis Bill, 2019 and the Bill outlines the legal framework governing the cultivation and use of marijuana in St. Kitts and Nevis.

There is a need for amendment in the previously existing legislation relating to drug abuse and misuse."My staff is working hard on these changes," said Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Honourable Vincent Byron Jr.

The National Assembly is also expected to resume debate on the West Indies (Tenure of Office of Prime Minister) (Constitutional Amendment) Bill, 2018. The Bill, tabled in February 2018, seeks to make an amendment of Section 52 (2) of the Constitution. With the amendment, “a Representative shall not hold office as Prime Minister for more than two terms, whether or not served consecutively.”

“We are ready to go forward with that,” Attorney General Byron Jr. stated, while addressing media at the prime minister’s monthly press conference on Tuesday (July 02, 2019).

The Motion of No Confidence Bill, 2019, is also slated to be debated by the legislature after it was first introduced in May.

“We hope that we will be able to put into our legislation, statutory underpinnings of the Constitutional arrangements in relation to the holding of the Motion of No Confidence, establishing statutorily a period when such a motion is filed when it should be heard,” Honourable Byron Jr. said.

The West Indies (Tenure of Office of Prime Minister) (Constitutional Amendment) Bill, 2018, and The Motion of No Confidence Bill, 2019, are key pieces of government’s Good Governance Agenda.