SKN: Ruling coalition meet to discuss concerns within Team Unity | Loop Caribbean News – Loop News Caribbean

Leaders of the parties that make up the Team Unity coalition in St Kitts and Nevis

wrapped up their second meeting on Thursday where discussions centred around issues put forward by Shawn Richards, leader of the Peoples Action Movement (PAM), and Mark Brantley, leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), were discussed.

Following the meeting, Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Timothy Harris addressed the nation to inform them of the outcome of the meeting.

Thursdays meeting was a follow up to another meeting held last Wednesday in which the Leader of Pam and the Leader of CCM put forward areas of concern for the Prime Ministers consideration.

Given the nature of the concerns presented, it was agreed that the second meeting would take place a week later, giving Harris the opportunity to present his views on the matters raised.

Referring to the meeting as cordial in his address to the nation, Harris informed that he proposed a framework to address the issues raised.

This framework included the introduction of a code of conduct for the better functioning of the cabinet. I further propose that all ministries should be subject to greater accountability to the cabinet through regular reporting so that members may be better apprised of the workings of the entire government.

One of the demands raised during the meeting was that portfolios within government should be reassigned.

Speaking to this, Harris said: I committed to undertake a review of the makeup of the cabinet in due course, with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government as a whole. I made it clear that I could not allow the constitutional prerogative of the office of the Prime Minister to be diminished.

Another issue raised in the meeting was a review of the funds allocated to the island of Nevis. Harris said: I informed colleagues that further progress has been made, with the World Bank giving its consent to undertake a study to advise on equitable revenue-sharing arrangements between the federal government and the Nevis Island Administration.

He said in the interim, the budgetary support to Nevis has been increased as per the request of Brantley, who is the Premier of Nevis.

Over the past several weeks, tensions have been high as Brantley continues to call for a fair financial share for the island of Nevis and Richards making it known that he is not pleased with the way Harris is handling certain things within Team Unity.

The Peoples Action Movement held its party convention recently, inviting Brantley to be featuredspeaker. The party made clear the expectation that after two terms Harris would relinquish his position as Prime Minister and Richards would take the helm as the next Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis.

At the moment, PLP holds only two seats in government, the least of the coalition partners. Rumours have been circulating that Harris is attempting to gain political traction by fielding PLP candidates in all 8 constituencies in St Kitts which would essentially mean that PLP candidates would be running against coalition partners of the PAM party. Harris has not addressed these rumours, only to say that it has always been agreed that Team Unity would put forward the best person to achieve the goals of the administration.

Ending his address on Thursday, Harris said, I recognise that the political events over the last several weeks have created considerable and undue anxiety, discomfort and uncertainty for you the beloved people of St Kitts and Nevis. It is for this reason that I remain fully committed to the process that would bring this unfortunate situation to an end.

He added: I believe at this time that our country must have a cabinet that has fully committed to addressing the pressing issues that confront our people.

While every and concern to members cannot be addressed and resolved at this moment, I remain open to further discussions.

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SKN: Ruling coalition meet to discuss concerns within Team Unity | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean