St Kitts-Nevis MP Konris accused PM Harris of "crass deception and utter disrespect"

The St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) Parliamentary Representative for St Christopher 3 (West Basseterre), Hon Konris Maynard, accused Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris of "crass deception and utter disrespect" when he told nationals in the United Sates recently that draft legislation he has before the National Assembly will not prevent those who reside overseas from exercising their rights to vote in upcoming general elections.

"Some of the persons in attendance at the meeting, put their hand over their mouth in shock and amazement, completely aghast at the bold untruth. The Prime Minister went on to say that the proposed amendments are designed to prevent residents in St. Kitts and Nevis from registering where they do not live," Maynard told a news conference on Wednesday.

He said the amendments to the National Assembly Election Act that were tabled for its first reading in Parliament last year, make the points pellucidly clear that the Team Unity Government of St Kitts and Nevis continues to treat its citizens in the diaspora, as well as locally, with inordinate disrespect and disregard.

"The attempts at deception are nothing short of phenomenal," said Maynard.

He stated that during the townhall meeting held in the Washington DC/Maryland area, nationals living there sought clarification from Prime Minister Harris on the intent of the amendment to the National Assembly Election Act.

"In his response, the Prime Minister, in his usual act of crass deception and utter disrespect, propagated the falsehood that the bill was never intended to prevent our overseas nationals from voting in the elections in their home country. Some of the persons in attendance at the meeting, put their hand over their mouth in shock and amazement, completely aghast at the bold untruth. The Prime Minister went on to say that the law was designed to prevent residents in St. Kitts and Nevis from registering where they do not live," the West Basseterre MP said.

"Truth be told, the (present) law allows for registration on two bases if you are otherwise qualified to register: On the basis of where you live, if you live in the country; on the basis of your domicile, if you live abroad. Your domicile is your legal home in St. Kitts and Nevis, if you reside abroad. So the simple truth is that, in relation to a person living in St Kitts and Nevis, you always were required to register where you live. Plain and simple. Therefore, it was never necessary for any law to be passed to say that, because that law already exists," Maynard explained.

"The amendments that were brought to Parliament are designed to stop the overseas vote, period," said Maynard, who in digging deeper into the proposed amendments pointed out that "the new bill seeks to remove the definition of ‘domicile’ which means that you could no longer register according to your domicile. That is, you cannot register unless you are truly resident in St. Kitts and Nevis."

Accusing Prime Minister Harris of doing serious damage to the credibility of the Office of the Prime Minister and to St Kitts and Nevis when he lies to citizens so blatantly, Maynard also pointed out that the new bill seeks to remove all of Section 37 (b) of the present law.

"That section deals with the registration of overseas voters. How can you remove an entire section that creates a basis for the registration of overseas voters (persons who live overseas) and claim that the law is not meant to disenfranchise the overseas voters? This level of deception is truly extraordinary; it is criminal, in fact," the first-term parliamentarian told reporters and the nation.

"We wish to make it absolutely clear that the Bill introduced into Parliament last year seeking to amend the National Assembly Elections Act was designed to disenfranchise the overseas voters. The Bill abolishes registration by domicile, so that you could only register if you actually reside in the country for at least 6 months," Maynard asserted.

"Dr Harris is a shameless creature who believes that he can deceive and manipulate the people of this country at will. This must stop," said Maynard, a first term parliamentarian.