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The recent revelations that St.Kitts-Nevis Opposition Leader Dr Denzil Douglas is the holder of a diplomatic passport of another country in contravention of the Constitution has seemingly thrown the opposition Labour party into a tailspin.
Reports making the rounds, particularly on social media , have indicated that the St.Kitts-Nevis Opposition Labour Party convened an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon at the Koi Building. Sources suggest that the leadership of the Party along with candidates from the most recent general elections were present and the matter of the bombshell revelation pointing to Dr Douglas’ alleged foreign Diplomatic passport was the main issue discussed.
At his press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris made what one can only describe as a bombshell announcement, given the fact that the Dr. Denzil Douglas of yesteryear was considered to be a staunch advocate against dual citizenship for parliamentarians.
“Certain information was recently drawn to my attention, which I feel obliged in the public interest to share with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Prime Minister Harris said, adding: “Dr. Denzil Douglas is a citizen of another country other than St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Denzil Douglas promotes the CIP [Citizenship-by-Investment Program] of another country and undermines that of St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Denzil Douglas strangely holds a Diplomatic Passport of another country.”
Article 6 (I) of the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Act of 2009 states, in part, that “a person shall not be qualified to be elected or appointed as a member [of the National Assembly] if he or she (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”
The prime minister said this matter of the leader of the opposition possessing a passport other than a St. Kitts and Nevis passport “raises significant questions of a civic, political and constitutional nature. In my humble view, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have a constitutional right to be represented only by people who owe and, who appear to owe, their undivided loyalty and allegiance to the federation,” he said.
Harris said his Team Unity government will conduct its own investigation in this matter, and stated that any investigation “should consider whether holding the diplomatic passport undermines the federal interests of St. Kitts and Nevis, and whether it undermines the capacity of St. Kitts and Nevis to do work as part of the OECS, as part of the OAS and as part of CARICOM.”

An overseas based consultant was brought in to facilitate and mediate the discussions as the Opposition party contemplates their next move in and effort to implement and heighten a significant damage control plan of action.
OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY  CALLS EMERGENCY MEETING IN WAKE OF RECENT OPPOSITION LEADER “DUAL CITIZENSHIP” REVELATIONS
The recent revelations that St.Kitts-Nevis Opposition Leader Dr Denzil Douglas is the holder of a diplomatic passport of another country in contravention of the Constitution has seemingly thrown the opposition Labour party into a tailspin.

Reports making the rounds, particularly on social media , have indicated that the St.Kitts-Nevis Opposition Labour Party convened an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon at the Koi Building. Sources suggest that  the leadership of the Party along with candidates from the most recent general elections were present and the matter of the bombshell revelation pointing to Dr Douglas’ alleged foreign Diplomatic passport was the main issue discussed.

At his press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris made what one can only describe as a bombshell announcement, given the fact that the Dr. Denzil Douglas of yesteryear was considered to be a staunch advocate against dual citizenship for parliamentarians.      

“Certain information was recently drawn to my attention, which I feel obliged in the public interest to share with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Prime Minister Harris said, adding: “Dr. Denzil Douglas is a citizen of another country other than St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Denzil Douglas promotes the CIP [Citizenship-by-Investment Program] of another country and undermines that of St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Denzil Douglas strangely holds a Diplomatic Passport of another country.”

Article 6 (I) of the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Act of 2009 states, in part, that “a person shall not be qualified to be elected or appointed as a member [of the National Assembly] if he or she (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

The prime minister said this matter of the leader of the opposition possessing a passport other than a St. Kitts and Nevis passport “raises significant questions of a civic, political and constitutional nature. In my humble view, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have a constitutional right to be represented only by people who owe and, who appear to owe, their undivided loyalty and allegiance to the federation,” he said.

Harris said his Team Unity government will conduct its own investigation in this matter, and stated that any investigation “should consider whether holding the diplomatic passport undermines the federal interests of St. Kitts and Nevis, and whether it undermines the capacity of St. Kitts and Nevis to do work as part of the OECS, as part of the OAS and as part of CARICOM.”

 

An overseas based consultant was brought in to facilitate and mediate the discussions as the Opposition party contemplates their next move in and effort to  implement and heighten a significant damage control plan of action.