The resignation of Skerrit follows the standoff between the government of Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas and the opposition over the election of the Deputy Speaker. *Photo credit: sknvibes.com

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Tourism Minister Rickey Skerrit resigned as Tourism Minister in order to take up the post of Deputy Speaker as the new session of the parliament began here on Wednesday.

The resignation of Skerrit follows the standoff between the government of Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas and the opposition over the election of the Deputy Speaker.

While the Speaker of the National Assembly can be appointed from outside the Parliament, the Constitution states that the Deputy must be a Member of Parliament who is not a member of the Cabinet.

Curtis Martin was re-elected as Speaker of the House.

Attorney General Patrice Nisbett announced Skerritt’s resignation, although he gave no indication when it was done or who had been chosen as his replacement.

Prior to the new session of parliament, opposition Peoples Action Movement (PAM) legislator, Eugene Hamilton, said his party would only accept the position of Deputy Speaker if the Prime Minister would allow the Leader of the Opposition to select the Speaker.

Following the January 25 general election Prime Minister Douglas announced a nine-member Cabinet indicating that the fresh mandate given to the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, which won six of the 11 seats at stake, should be taken as a “call to greater service”.

Currently, all members on the Government side hold ministerial portfolios and last week the prime minister said he expected all parliamentarians to step up to the plate to elect a Deputy Speaker.

Speaking on his “Ask the PM” radio programme, Dr. Douglas said he hoped that the legislators would demonstrate some measure of maturity, stop playing childish politics and get on with the business of conducting the affairs of the country from Parliament.