On Constitutional and Electoral Reform Matters for St. Kitts and Nevis

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” Matthew 11:33 (NIV)

Please find below a collection of writings as it pertains to constitutional and electoral reform matters as expressed by some of our preeminent lawyers in our Federation and in the wider Caribbean.

In this information age, I was surprised that this information was not readily available in an archive for our citizens at home and in the diaspora to read, discuss and share, as we together help create a better and brighter nation.

The events in the past weeks has brought to the fore the issue of Independence for Nevis on the SKNList, and I have endeavoured to use my blog site as a clearing house to help collect the pertinent documents and expert opinions and share it with others.

The authors of the Task Force Document recommended that the document be shared with the public, and in this light, to help develop goodwill and understanding of the issues involved, I hope this would be a catalyst in this regard.

I am very grateful to those who were kind enough to share what documents they have on the matter. If there are any sources that you think should be added, please email me at bsahely@hotmail.com, and I will add them to the collection here.

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From Statehood to Interdependence – A blueprint for devolution of power and meaningful constitutional reform

“I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes.”- Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr

For those of you who follow my blog articles, you would recognise that I have placed much of what is happening in our beloved Federation at the feet of political tribalism, and moreover, that we should all be united in getting rid of this scourge from our lands. Interestingly, on Inside the News today on WINNFM, the topic of political tribalism was discussed, and although many were quick to point out its effects, I was disappointed that no one attempted to deal with the real underlying causes or even to provide solutions on how we as a nation can detribalise as we move forward.

Over the past year, I have been trying to grapple with elucidating the causes and finding solutions and several sources have presented themselves serendipitously. It is hoped that in penning this article, I would be able to convince, not only myself, but by extension you, my readers, where the problem lies and where crucial changes need to be made for us as a nation to change course and to use our creative energies to rebuild a better society for ourselves and the next generations.

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