Dr. Timothy Harris sworn in as St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister

By LK Hewlett From St Kitts & Nevis Observer

On February 18, Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris was sworn in as the third Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The swearing in ceremony took place at Government House yesterday at 5pm, two days after the united opposition won the federal election 7 seats to 4.

The 51-year-old former Minister of Finance, who broke ties with the Denzil Douglas-led administration two years ago, took the Oaths of Allegiance and Office and the Oath of Secrecy, administered by Resident Judge Justice Marlene Carter. Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence presented the instrument of appointment

“I pledge as the Prime Minister of the country to uphold all Oaths that I have taken, to work diligently for the prosperity of the country and equally important, the deepening of the democracy,” Dr. Harris avowed.

During the auspicious ceremony witnessed by newly elected parliamentarians, Team Unity candidates, family and friends, former Opposition Senator Vincent “Juicy” Byron Jr. was sworn in as the new Attorney General.

Outside the venue scores of Team Unity supporters cheered as their new Prime Minister and his Cabinet-elect emerged.

Following the ceremony, PM Dr. Harris stopped off at government headquarters to greet supporters who had gathered there since late afternoon. He then headed across to Nevis to join his Unity colleagues from the Concerned Citizens Movement for a massive rally in Charlestown.

PM Harris, with his Unity colleagues and supporters in tow, reported for work at government headquarters Thursday morning. Citizens were allowed to tour the offices, and The Observer understands they met the office of ousted Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas littered with crackers and clothes.

The newly elected MPs will not be able to officially take up duties until they are sworn into office next week.

For more on this story go to: http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/2015/02/13/sworn-in.html

Earlier story:

St Kitts-Nevis governor general refuses to swear in new PM

From Caribbean News Now

BASSETERRE, St Kitts — The already controversial general election process in St Kitts and Nevis took another unexpected turn on Wednesday when Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence refused to swear in the country’s new prime minister, Dr Timothy Harris.

Harris led an opposition alliance, Team Unity, to victory in Monday’s general elections, capturing seven out of the eleven elected seats in the federal parliament. The other four seats were won by the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (three) and the Nevis Reformation Party (one).

Lawrence said he could not swear in the prime minister-elect until he had a hard copy of the election results from the supervisor of elections, Wingrove George, whose failure on Tuesday to declare the election results prompted widespread reaction in St Kitts and Nevis and from around the region.

Almost 12 hours after polling stations closed on Monday, the state-owned ZIZ radio announced early Tuesday that vote counting had been halted and there would be no more announcements of election results.

George eventually broke his silence later in the day on Tuesday and named Team Unity as the winners.

But while George said that Team Unity had won seven of the 11 seats contested in the general election, he gave no figures, saying that they would be provided later on Tuesday night.

Apparently, the official results had still not been provided to the governor general by Wednesday morning.

However, in a brief statement on Wednesday afternoon, the government information service announced that Harris would be sworn in at a ceremony at Government House at 5 pm, instead of 10 am as originally requested by Harris.

In what seemed to be another post-election fiasco, the widespread regional practice of flying in overseas residents to vote in elections resulted in hundreds of St Kitts and Nevis nationals living overseas being stranded in St Kitts after return charter flights were cancelled.

One charter to New York’s JFK airport was reportedly cancelled due to US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) concerns over the passenger manifest.

The St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party reportedly chartered up to 16 flights from the US and the Caribbean, bringing in more than 2,000 people, representing some 7.5 percent of the votes cast in the 2010 election, the last poll for which figures are available.

IMAGES :
Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence (C), flanked by Team Unity parliamentarians at the belated swearing in ceremony at 5pm on Wednesday
Prime Minister-elect, Dr Timothy Harris
Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-St-Kitts-Nevis-governor-general-refuses-to-swear-in-new-PM-24863.html

Related story:

Caribbean leaders congratulate newly elected St Kitts-Nevis prime minister

From Caribbean360

IMAGE: PRIME MINISTER DR. TIMOTHY HARRIS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday February 19, 2015, CMC – The leaders of Guyana and St. Lucia have congratulated Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris and Team Unity on their victory at the polls.

In his message, President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar said he looked forward to strengthening relations between both countries.

“I also look forward to our collaboration at the regional, hemispheric and international levels for the betterment of the peoples of the Caribbean Community.”

Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr. Kenny Anthony said the democratic traditions of the region were maintained in what was “another peaceful transition of power” and assured the new Prime Minister of the support and cooperation of the government and people of St. Lucia.

“These are trying times in which we live and it is only by cooperation that small island states like ours can succeed. There are major economic and financial decisions to be made in the weeks ahead.”

“These decisions will require that we all work closely together for the collective benefit of our citizens. We have to be each other’s keeper,” he added.

Anthony said Prime Minister Harris has had the benefit of ministerial experience “and I am positive this will serve him in good stead as he enters this new phase of his political journey. I wish him well in that regard.”

“I also wish to wish to thank former Prime Minister Right Dr. Denzil Douglas, to whom the people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis entrusted their well-being for nearly twenty years. Former Prime Minister Douglas gave outstanding service to his country and to the region.”

Anthony said that while the players may be different, the task of governing continues “and I call upon all concerned to work together so that St. Kitts and Nevis and our region can continue our strides towards the prosperity of our peoples.”

Prime Minister Harris’ Team Unity romped home to a 7-4 victory over Douglas’ Labour Party in Monday’s general elections.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/caribbean-leaders-congratulate-newly-elected-st-kitts-nevis-prime-minister#ixzz3SFF5etZl