by LK Hewlett
The people of St. Kitts and Nevis will be formally introduced to their united federal government when newly elected members of Parliament are sworn into office on Sunday.
The new slate of MPs were elected on Monday, Feb 16, however only Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris has been sworn into office. Ministerial appointments are yet to be determined.
The Observer spoke with PLP Deputy and former Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor earlier this week who said the Cabinet appointments was still being worked out.
“The Federal Cabinet has not been sorted out as yet; all those things will take a little time,” he said.
Condor was unable to win his seat to be returned to the federal parliament. He served as a parliamentarian for almost 26 consecutive years.
PAM MPs include Party Leader and Co-deputy of Team Unity, Hon Shawn Richards; Hon. Eugene Hamilton; Hon. Ian “Patches” Liburd, and Hon. Lindsay Grant.
Two of the Team Unity MPS are Nevis Premier Hon. Vance Amory and his Deputy Hon. Mark Brantley.
Dr. Harris met with new MPs and Team Unity candidates along with Premier Amory, Deputy Premier Brantley and NIA Minister Hon Alexis Jeffers on Thursday to discuss the composition of the federal cabinet.
Attorney General Vincent Byron Jr. confirmed that the full Cabinet will be installed in a swearing in ceremony Sunday (Feb 22).
Who will be appointed Deputy Prime Minister?
The new Deputy Prime Minister will come from among the four elected MPs of the People’s Action Movement.
This is according to well-placed sources.
Brantley informed that Cabinet portfolios were being discussed but it was “unlikely” that he or Premier Amory would be asked to be PM Harris’ second in command.
“My own view is that the People’s Action Movement with the majority bloc of seats ought to be offered that courtesy,” Brantley told The Observer.
The February 16 elections returned PAM Leader Richards to parliament for a 3rd consecutive term, PAM Deputy Leader Hamilton for a 2nd consecutive term, and marks former PAM leader Grant’s and newcomer Ian Liburd’s first stint in the National Assembly.
