WJP: St Kitts-Nevis slides toward weaker rule of law and rising authoritarianism

The decline in St Kitts and Nevis' position on the World Justice Index for 2019 is an indication of a slide toward a weaker rule of law and rising authoritarianism under the Timothy Harris Unity Government, according to the WJP Rule of Law Index for 2019.

"At 30th place out of 126 countries worldwide, St. Kitts and Nevis declined two positions for overall rule of law performance in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2019 edition," according to the World Justice Project press release on St Kitts and Nevis country report dated February 28, 2019.

"Globally, the new WJP Rule of Law Index scores show that more countries declined than improved in overall rule of law performance for a second year in a row, continuing a negative slide toward weaker rule of law around the world. In a sign suggesting rising authoritarianism, the factor score for "Constraints on Government Powers" declined in more countries than any other factor worldwide over the last year (61 countries declined, 23 stayed the same, 29 improved)," the press release said.

"This slide in rule of law in general and checks on government powers in particular is deeply concerning," commented Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of the World Justice Project.

Commenting on the report, Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil Douglas noted that the World Justice Project only began to assess the situation in St. Kitts and Nevis for the last two years but the widespread corruption, nepotism and cronyism that have engulfed the Harris government over the last four years can be attributed to the conclusion in the slide.

"In the first assessment St Kitts and Nevis was ranked at 28 in 2018. The ranking for this year (2019) has dropped to 30, an indication that the situation has gotten worst over the last year under the Team Unity Government," he said pointing directly to governance issues including several scandals that have rocked St Kitts and Nevis.

He raised Dr Harris' refusal to allow the International Monetary Fund to publish the economic report following the visit by the mission under the Article IV Consultation.

Dr Douglas also raised the Peter Virdee bribery, stem cell and unethical Herpes Virus scandals, the widespread corruption of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme as well as the blatant nepotism and cronyism that have shaken good governance and the rule of law in St Kitts and Nevis.