The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) has ordered Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Constituency #6 in St. Kitts, Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas, to vacate his seat in the National Assembly.
In the judgment handed down (today) Mar. 12th by Chief Justice, the Hon. Dame Janice M. Pereira, DBE, the Hon. Madame Gertel Thom, Justice of Appeal, and the Hon. Mr. Paul Webster, Justice of Appeal (Acting) in an appeal case between the Attorney General of St. Kitts and Nevis and Dr. Denzil Douglas, the judges made the following conclusion:
1.The appeal is allowed, and the order of the learned judge is set aside……
2.It is hereby declared that Dr. Douglas, by reason of his becoming a person who, by virtue of his own act, is under an acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to the Commonwealth of Dominica in breach of section 28(1)(a) of the Constitution, is Required , pursuant to section 31(3)(c) of the Constitution, to vacate his seat in the National Assembly……
And 3. Each party shall bear their own costs before this Court and in the court below.
The case brought by the Attorney General sought to determine, whether the respondent’s, That’s Dr. Douglas application for receipt and use of a diplomatic passport issued by the Commonwealth of Dominica amounts to an acknowledgment of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Dominica Section 31(3)(c) of the SKN’s Constitution.
The VONNEWSLINE made attempts to contact Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and Attorney General, the Hon. Vincent Byron Jr., but to no avail.
Meantime:
That’s Leader of the Opposition, Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas.
Following the ruling from the ECSC, Dr. Douglas expressed his views during a press conference held by the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) on Thursday Mar. 12th.
He also made this statement:
Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas.
