St Kitts and Nevis Parliament dissolved, PM yet to announce election date

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris on Wednesday officially announced the dissolution of the parliament. Elections will be held within 90 days, yet he did not announce the election date so far.

The leader stated that he had dissolved the parliament on May 12 by informing the Governor-General. Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton, however, the official annoucement of the dissolution of parliament was made by Dr Harris himself on May 13.

“It is now almost some five years since that first sitting and I have yesterday advised His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton, to dissolve the National Assembly as from Tuesday, May 12 2020 and he has graciously consented.”

Besides this, no information about the date of parliamentary elections was given by the leader.

Dr Timothy Harris' speech was surrounded around the five years of Team Unity government in St Kitts and Nevis. Political experts have already called the announcement to have lingered as the five years were already completed in February.

Several senior political analysts had predicted the date to be May 13, including the senior lawyer Dwyer Astaphan who recently on a live programme on Facebook predicted the same.

While stating the significance of constitution, Dr Timothy Harris said: “We are a country governed by laws and our constitution is our supreme law.” He cited that every parliament shall continue for five years from the date of the first sitting.”

“The next election will bring certainty to our Federation, preserve our democracy and allow us to continue to deliver a brighter future, creating employment and prosperity,” he added.

Around 14 minutes of speech mostly covered the performance of Team Unity administration.

Team Unity which is an alliance of three poltical fronts won the general elections in 2015. The party had defeated St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party and won with a considerable ratio.