By: T. Chapman
The St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly will automatically prorogue on Thursday May 14th if Prime Minister Harris dosen’t make an announcement later tonight or tomorrow.
Once the house is dissolved, elections must be held on or before August 12.
As per the Constitution, the maximum term of a Parliament is five years from the date of its first sitting, which was May 14, 2015.
The date of expiration for the Team Unity Government, led by Prime Minister, Dr. Timothy Harris is Thursday 14 May.
After the house is dissolved, Team Unity has to call an election within 90 days, (General Elections MUST be called within that timeframe).
No laws can be passed after the dissolution. The only way Parliament can convene thereafter, is if the Governor General recalls Parliament for an emergency purpose.
The Executive referred to as the Cabinet of Ministers will remain in office and govern the country until a new Prime Minister is officially sworn in.
The Unity Government which comprises of three political parties, People’s Labour Party, Concerned Citizens Movement and the People’s Action Movement won the majority of seats in the last General Election held in February of 2015, (7-4) while the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party won 3 seats and the Nevis Reformation Party, 1.
