ST.KITTS-NEVIS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION REMAINS ONLY MP WITHOUT A VISA NEAR 4 YEARS AFTER US REVOCATION

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The controversial Leader of the St.Kitts-Nevis Opposition is once again in the news regarding his relationships with an  International government and a company under much international scrutiny. The ousted Prime Minister of St.Kitts-Nevis was quite notably absent at the much touted UK “International Grand Committee” on disinformation and fake news hearings  in London. Dr. Douglas was scheduled to be questioned by UK MPs and parliamentarians from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Latvia and Singapore during a special UK Parliament session on Tuesday morning in Westminster.

The “unprecedented” move comes as the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMSC) probes fake news and the data breach that led to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Dr. Douglas was expected to be grilled regarding his relationship with SCL/Cambridge Analytica. The SCL Successfully managed Dr Douglas’ Labour Party Campign in 2010. The campaign was notable as SCL/Cambridge Analytica’s involvements saw the now infamous framing of the then opposition Leader of St.Kitts-Nevis Hon. Lindsay grant in an alleged bribery sting operation . The tactics used during that campaign against the opposition in St.Kitts-Nevis would’ve likely formed the basis for Dr. Douglas’ testimony. However Dr. Douglas was a “NO-SHOW”. Like Mark Zuckerberg , who was also expected to testify but was a “NO-SHOW” , Dr. Douglas has come under much criticism . The “NO-SHOW” raised further questions regarding the extent of Dr. Douglas’ involvement in the now infamous SCL/Cambridge Analytica “set-up”.

However Dr. Douglas’ “NO-SHOW” was not the only thing on people’s mind. His ability to properly carry out his duties as an MP and Opposition Leader is being  questioned as his possession of a Dominican Passport puts him in contradiction with the SKN Constituion. A matter that is being pursued in the court at the moment. If that was not enough the fact that some 4 years after having it revoked Dr. Douglas remains the ONLY St.Kitts-Nevis MP without a US Visa. Upon taking office Prime aMinister Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris made the stunning revelation that he had met documents from US Secretary of State John Kerry which indicated that in January 2015  the US Visa of Dr. Douglas had been revoked.  The revelation was later confirmed when noted former BBC Journalist Ken Richards in a new story stated “Journalist Ken Richards of WINN FM news, based in St Kitts, reported that “The Americans are quoted as saying that the timing of the revoking of the visa was not done to deliberately coincide with the election campaign, but was the result of a gradual process.”

In commenting on the revocation PM Harris declared “The United States, the most powerful country in the world, determined that Denzil Douglas was improper and unfit to be accorded a US diplomatic visa and it is a shame and scandal for any national leader to have had such a condemnation put on him.”

It has been stated but not confirmed that the Former PM has  made at least one attempt to have his US Visa status reinstated and was denied according to sources.

In a Budget debate wrapu-up PM Harris stated “ US Secretary of State John Kerry had written to Dr Douglas on several occasions expressing concern about how Dr Douglas’ administration was managing the CBI program. The warning went unheeded and resulted in a major fallout of the CBI programme and the relationship between the US and Canadian govts and the government of St.Kitts Nevis . The North American countries both issued scathing advisories regarding the Douglas administrations management of the CBI programme . So serious were the concerns the Canadian govt withdrew totally the visa free waiver that citizens of St.Kitts Nevis enjoyed for decades .”

The CBI fallout no diubt played a factor in the  revocation. However it is widely speculated that the fallout along with other issues regarding Dr. Douglas’ activities resulted in the revocation and the continued denial of a US Visa .

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