A fiery exchange at Thursday night’s town hall on the Sustainability Zones Act (SSZ Act) saw Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew and Attorney General Garth Wilkin challenge the People’s Action Movement (PAM) on what they described as a clear breakdown in the party’s parliamentary communication and consultation process.
The event, held on 16th October, 2025, featured interventions from PAM Leader Natasha Gray-Brookes and Deputy Political Leader Azard Gumbs, both of whom raised concerns about the SSZ Act’s passage and its implications for governance and transparency.
Gray-Brookes, who is not a sitting Member of Parliament, accused the government of “rushing” the legislation through the National Assembly without adequate consultation and called on the Prime Minister to repeal what she described as a “fatally flawed” law.
However, Prime Minister Drew pushed back strongly, pointing out that PAM’s sole elected Member of Parliament, Shawn Richards, had made no contribution to the debate when the Bill was tabled and later passed.
“Mrs. Gray-Brookes, your party has a member in Parliament. When a bill is tabled, it is the representative’s duty to review it, consult with their leadership, and speak on behalf of their constituents,” Dr. Drew said. “How can you now, as leader of that same party, claim outrage about a law that your MP failed to address in Parliament? That’s a breakdown in your own process — not ours.”
The Prime Minister noted that his administration had allowed sufficient time between the Bill’s first and second readings for feedback, consultation, and input — a practice that differs from the former government’s use of procedural suspensions to fast-track legislation.
Attorney General Garth Wilkin echoed this sentiment, defending the government’s consultation process and clarifying Gray-Brooks and Gumbs’ concerns about the perceived lack of input from the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association.
“I met with the President of the Bar and told them that every Bill before Parliament would be published publicly for comment,” Wilkin said. “We have passed 83 Bills since taking office. Not once have we received a single email with suggested amendments or concerns from the Bar Association. That’s not an indictment; that’s the reality.”
Wilkin stressed that the administration has maintained a transparent legislative process, allowing all interested bodies, including the opposition, ample opportunity to review and respond to proposed laws before debate.
When PAM’s Deputy Leader, Azard Gumbs, later challenged the use of the term “may” instead of “shall” in Section 9 of the SSZ Act — arguing that it allowed the government too much discretion regarting the oversight of projects that may be established under the SSZ — both Dr. Drew and the Attorney General again pointed to the party’s failure to raise such technical concerns where it mattered most: on the parliamentary floor.
“You are the deputy leader of a political party with representation in Parliament,” Dr. Drew replied. “You had every opportunity to make this argument through your MP. But your party failed to do so. This is not about politics — it’s about responsibility. You owe it to the people who elected you to participate meaningfully in the law-making process.”
The Attorney General later added that while Mr. Gumbs’s suggestions would be considered, “the recommendation came too late,” reiterating that the time for such legal proposals is during parliamentary debate.
The exchanges underscored some tension which still remains over the SSZ Act, which has sparked debate across St. Kitts and Nevis about land use, transparency, and government authority. But for the Prime Minister and Attorney General, the issue also exposed a deeper challenge: what they describe as the opposition’s failure to engage constructively in governance.
“The government continues to demonstrate openness and accountability through public dialogue,” Dr. Drew concluded. “But parliamentary democracy only works if all sides take their roles seriously.”
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