Good Governance in Action: Drew-Led Government Grants Diplomatic Passport to Opposition Member Shawn Richards

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 31, 2025 (PMO) — Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew reaffirmed his government’s commitment to good governance, fairness, and democratic maturity, announcing that Opposition Member of Parliament Hon. Shawn Richards has been granted a diplomatic passport.

Addressing the National Assembly, Prime Minister Drew said, “The Honorable Shawn Richards, member from number five, has applied for his diplomatic passport, and I’m simply saying that he’s a Member of Parliament, and he would be afforded his diplomatic passport.”

Dr. Drew emphasized that the decision reflects his administration’s principles, not political preference.

He stressed, it “has nothing to do with how I feel… The fact is that he is an elected Member of Parliament by the people of Constituency Number Five, and he should be treated with a certain decor, and that is why he will be afforded his diplomatic passport.”

He urged the nation to continue embracing civility and fairness in public life. “We must never deny Members of Parliament what they should get… People must be treated with a particular type of decorum in this House, whether you’re on that side or this side, you’re called honorable.”

The Prime Minister concluded by affirming that “the good governance agenda dictates that we treat the members of parliament with the respect and the decorum that a modern, civilized, democratic country would bestow.”