By Lesroy W. Williams Observer Reporter
” (Basseterre, St. Kitts) – In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has taken to the airwaves to address the many issues, concerns and questions of citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in a new radio program called “Ask the Prime Minister.” A press release from press secretary Erasmus Williams” stated that “citizens will be able to talk with Prime Minister Douglas, ask him questions and tell him of ideas about the country in an effort to make St .Kitts and Nevis a better place to live.” The one-hour program premiered Tuesday, Oct. 21 and will be hosted on Tuesdays at 10 am on ZIZ Radio by Ms. Wanda Connor. Citizens will have the opportunity to call ZIZ open line @ 465-2555 or e-mail their comments, questions or suggestions to: Ask the PM @zizonline.com. The Government’s Press Office issued a statement saying that this is another initiative of transparency, accountability and good governance of the Labour Administration. The statement added that since assuming office in July 1995, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government has had a series of ongoing programs to bring about good governance. Such programs include “Face to Face” and the “Post Cabinet Briefing”. “Face to Face” is basically a town hall meeting with the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet who field questions from the general public whereas the Post Cabinet briefings was implemented to inform the general public about important information regarding government’s decisions et cetera. Other programs instituted include the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference, live television coverage of the National Assembly meetings, the establishment of the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM), the establishment of the Prime Minister’s Web site and the consultation with stakeholders on draft legislation before passage in the lawmaking body. In his first program, the Prime Minister said that he considered himself the chief servant of the people and that he was there to listen to all sides. The prime minister spoke about the recent passage of Hurricane Omar and the issue of crime and violence during his first program. Plans were on their way to build a new prison facility because of the overcrowding of Her Majesty’s Prison on Cayon Street which was built in 1840 to accommodate only 60 persons but is presently the home to over 250 inmates, Dr. Douglas said. With a national debt in St .Kitts and Nevis of over 2 billion dollars, Prime Minister Douglas said that in order to provide the necessary services to the people of the country, debt has to be incurred and he will not have a surplus of money in the treasury while the people are suffering. The prime minister was responding to a question from a caller who wanted to know why in the Labor Party’s 13 years in power, they had never recorded a single year of overall surplus.” “I want to be able to hear our people. I want to be able to exchange ideas and that is why I am here,” he said.
