St Kitts court battle

Kittitian Prime Minister Denzil Douglas says an ongoing court battle over proposed constituency boundary changes threatens to undermine the country’s democratic process.

He told Kittitians and Nevisians in a radio address that the twin island Federation’s parliament would dissolve automatically on December 16 whether or not the court issue is settled.

Douglas said the government would continue to conduct affairs of state until general elections are called.
The government has acknowledged that calling an election before the court matters are settled would be difficult.

Support for impact assessment
St Lucia has thrown its weight behind a request by Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda for an immigration impact assessment for their territories.

Both countries want such a study because they say that they are bearing the brunt of migration from within the Caribbean.

St Lucian Prime Minister Stephenson King said he was hopeful the region in general would benefit from such an exercise.

Internet laws coming
The Dominica government says it intends introducing Internet laws, following a landmark ruling that awarded over half a million EC dollars (a little over US$190,000) in damages to a former beauty queen contestant.

In a ruling announced recently, Justice Anthony Ross ordered three women to compensate Marina Marshall for damaging her reputation.

The judge ruled that the young woman had been defamed in an email message.
Legal Affairs Minister Ian Douglas says that ruling sends a clear and strong message to people using the Internet to defame others.

Douglas says new e-legislation to be piloted through the parliament soon, will further strengthen efforts to derail such online defamation activity