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St.Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr Hon. Timothy Harris is reiterating the government’s position with regards to the row surrounding Ren Biao a Chinese National and St.Kitts-Nevis citizen. In a National Address aired on Tuesday evening May 9^th Prime Minister Harris declared that EVERY Citizen of the Federation is entitled to the FULL protection of the Laws of St.Kitts-Nevis.

“We cannot and will not simply allow our sovereignty and our laws to be trampled upon by permitting any Nation to attempt to engage in forced rendition of any citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis from our shores. Each and every citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis is entitled to the full protection of the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis. They are entitled to that protection not some of the time or at the whim of any Government. They are entitled to that protection all of the time,” Prime Minister Harris declared in his 17 minute long address.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the fact that his stance regarding the protection of the rights of citizens and the sovereignty of St.Kitts-NEVIS is not a unique one but one that most if not all vibrant democracies of the world adhere to and strive for. The Chinese government has made similar allegations in countries such as New Zealand, the UK, USA, Canada and Australia none of which have taken any steps outside of the laws of their country to address their respective matters.

“It is worthy of note that we are also aware through news reports that the government of the People’s Republic of China has made allegations against several Chinese citizens now resident in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. I am certain that those countries will insist that their national laws are respected in rendering any assistance to the Chinese authorities. This then is not unique to St. Kitts and Nevis. It is a feature of all mature democracies rooted in the Rule of Law,” Prime Minister Harris stated.

PM Harris continued “My beloved citizens, St. Kitts and Nevis guarantees to every citizen the protection afforded by law. We do so because we are a Nation of laws and because we respect and hold sacrosanct the Rule of Law.”  

Ren Biao is a Chinese National who was granted Citizenship and given a St.Kitts-Nevis Passport in 2013 under the Dr. Denzil Douglas led Labour Party administration. Dr. Douglas received an official red notice from Interpol in May 2014 regarding Biao. The Douglas administration did not address the Biao situation. The Team UNITY administration will be the first government to actively address and investigate the situation.