Former Saint Lucia Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has spoken out against pre-election promises of ministerial appointments, declaring that the promises represent an affront to the constitution.
He said all elected parliamentarians couldn’t be Ministers.
The Vieux Fort South MP recalled his own experience of leaving elected members out of his cabinet, partly to fulfill constitutional requirements such as appointing a Deputy Speaker.
But Anthony, a constitutional lawyer by profession, disclosed that in so doing, he faced disappointment, anger and even ‘trenchant comments’ from affected individuals and their supporters.
” I’ve had that experience and some of it has been very unkind,” he told the House of Assembly on Thursday.
The former Prime Minister explained that no explanation made affected individuals see the reason for or wisdom of the decision.
“Cabinet positions should not be the subject of bargaining before a general election,” the Vieux Fort South MP asserted.
“It attacks the fundamental discretion assigned to the Prime Minister by the constitution,” Anthony stated.
In addition, Anthony questioned what would happen when the number of parliamentarians in the House increases.
“We are seventeen, and it is an affront to the constitution that in this day and age, Mr. Speaker, we cannot move from the number seventeen bequeathed to us since independence,” he told the House.
“We are still at seventeen, despite the fact that there are incongruities and unlawfulness in the demarcation of our constituency boundaries,” Anthony said.
In this regard, he recalled warning that the time will come when a citizen insisting on protecting the constitution would seek a court declaration.
According to the Vieux Fort South MP, the constituency boundaries are unlawful because they fly in the face of Saint Lucia’s constitution.
And he said it was time to resolve the issue.
“Whether we go to twenty-one or twenty-three or whatever number of seats we need,” Anthony said.
He also noted the need to redesign the relationship between a government in office and its backbenchers.
“I say this because of my previous experience. I say this because of my current experience,” Anthony told the House.
“We have had little experience in shaping such relationships because there have been so few backbenchers so to speak and as you know, nearly all members are absorbed in cabinet for one reason or another,” the former Prime Minister stated.
Headline photo: Dr. Kenny Anthony (Stock image)
You are on target, Most Honourable one. It is truly an afront to the public and constitution. Better late than never. The comment, that is.
There is this saying that the shoe is always tighter on the other foot. For a 3 term prime minister to now declare the constitution boundaries unlawful says a lot about your governance. Dr Anthony is bitter that his Vieux Fort South people did not get into parliament. This is not the first time that he is showing up the government and I think it’s time that he resigns and let the people of Vieux Fort South elect someone that would work in their best interest and would stop blaming others for what he failed to do.
@ SLP….the Folks of VF has spoken and voted him to be perennial thanks for your concerns have a nice day
Until and unless the electorate matures and vote on policy rather than party our development will continue to stagnate or regress.
We had a surge in crime in VF recently I can’t recall any cross party talks and how to combat the surge.
There is no cross party consensus on anything in St Lucia, nothing, nada.
that’s speaking about frederick and king
Khalid unfortunately we live in a society of many many moronic people. Everything is chicken and rum. Short term gain for long term pain. Civics need to be taught in schools from day 1.
Respect to central and minister queen…. My two independent candidates you guys are dee best . No time for slp or uwp don’t even talk prime minister 🤣🤣🤣 just get into the house and make it happen . Lollll that was a work out 💪 bradda .
Bravo Hon Anthony. It takes a really man to admit he made mistakes and point out the truth. That’s what they keep on doing making promises to their high class behind the scene supporters. That is why I will continue to say I am disappointed in pip. I once held high respect and hope for him. I see him as an honest person but now he is in power it looks like he cannot say what is wrong and right not tell his team. Point it out Dr Anthony no matter who hates you. Better to have a clean and peaceful conscience even at the cost of people not liking you. Will pip or the Slp team hear you because then again they don’t like hearing truths but rather turn a blind ear and eye. Peace and love
Like we didn’t know however thank you for pointing it out to us…
It was good for you to do but now that you can never be Prime Minister again you can point out the fault in it. For those St Lucians who didn’t see his discussion with Bradley and Jeremiah during Richard’s contribution. It spoke volumes of his disdain for that clown Richard. I think he is really upset at him and King being in the camp and that’s why he will remain a backbencher
Politician is the man and politics is his music