Troubled Waters
Listen to Today's Edition:
The governor-general of St. Kitts and Nevis dissolved the Caribbean nation’s parliament this week, a move that could usher the country into snap elections, the Associated Press reported.
The trouble started after Prime Minister Timothy Harris fired a number of cabinet ministers – including Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards and Nevis Premier Mark Brantley – and asked Governor-General Samuel Seaton to dissolve the parliament.
He said the dismissal was because these officials “neglected their duties” and showed “a disinterest in their positions.”
Harris’ announcement came less than a month after lawmakers, including members of his governing coalition, filed a no-confidence motion against him, according to the Florida-based Caribbean National Weekly.
Lawmakers also attempted to oust Harris by asking the governor-general to remove him. But Seaton noted that under the constitution, the governor-general doesn’t have that power.
The prime minister said that he would announce new elections in the upcoming days.
The eastern Caribbean country consists of the larger island of Saint Kitts – or Saint Christopher – and the smaller one of Nevis. The country is part of the Commonwealth of Nations that has British Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state, according to Britannica.
Subscribe today and GlobalPost will be in your inbox the next weekday morning
Join us today and pay only $32.95 for an annual subscription, or less than $3 a month for our unique insights into crucial developments on the world stage. It’s by far the best investment you can make to expand your knowledge of the world.
And you get a free two-week trial with no obligation to continue.
