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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, May 10, 2017 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr the Hon Timothy Harris in an national address Tuesday evening May 9 told the nation that the government had instructed the relevant law enforcement and investigative agencies to investigate the claims against two alleged fugitives wanted by the mainland China government.

 

He said that the investigations will allow the government of St. Kitts and Nevis to determine if there is a legal basis to strip them of the privilege of having the citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis and the great honour of being holders of the country’s passport.

 

“As this investigation unfolds, active steps have already been taken by our law enforcement authorities within the bounds of St. Kitts and Nevis law,” advised Prime Minister Harris.

 

“As a responsible member of the international community, St. Kitts and Nevis will never become a safe haven for criminals. I have stated repeatedly as Prime Minister that our Citizen by Investment Programme is the platinum standard of the global industry. We cannot and will not allow it to be abused by those bent on criminality. The dark days of this programme under the Denzil Douglas led regime are over.”

 

Prime Minister Harris said the country would have heard and seen much of the baseless propaganda that is now being peddled locally, regionally and internationally by the former Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and his opposition St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party.

 

“This Government which I lead is not concerned with the noise,” stated the Prime Minister. “We well know who granted these individuals their citizenship and who ignored the Interpol Red Notice sent to them directly. We well know who removed the place of birth field from our passport leading to the dreaded FinCen Advisory and the cruel imposition on our people of visa requirement to enter Canada.”

 

Added Dr Harris: “We well know that news reports claimed that Alizheera Moghadam paid US$1 million for a diplomatic passport. We well know that Arthur Porter, Canadian fugitive and close friend of Denzil Douglas was granted St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship. Dr Denzil Douglas had the full confidence of Arthur Porter that he appointed him to be our Honorary Consul to the Bahamas.”

 

In the meantime St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris has said that while the opposition St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party chairperson Marcella Liburd made an attempt to deflect issues as it relates to the alleged fugitive Chinese nationals, she has ended up putting her party leader Dr Denzil Douglas further on the spot.

 

During an appearance on the People’s Voice programme hosted by Ambassador Michael Powell on Sugar City 90.3 FM on Monday May 8, Prime Minister Harris had advised that the Denzil Douglas administration had issued St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship to the two Chinese persons in September 2013 and that on 26 May 2014, USNCB Interpol Washington issued what is known as a Red Notice for the two individuals in question.. 

 

According to Prime Minister Harris, Interpol told the Denzil Douglas administration that parties were travelling on flight BA 2157 from London Gatwick to St. Kitts with a layover in Antigua, and that it was due to arrive at 15:40. This information was being relayed to the Denzil Douglas administration for them to take the necessary action and to advise Interpol, which they never did and the alleged Chinese fugitives have lived in St. Kitts and Nevis freely.

                                                                                           

However, when Labour Party chairperson Marcella Liburd appeared on Freedom Radio’s Issues programme in the afternoon of Monday May 8, she said: “I am happy that he (PM Harris) is saying that all these due processes were done under a Labour administration. So I am happy about that.”

 

When Prime Minister Harris was on People’s Choice Programme on Sugar City 90.3 FM, a group of about ten Labour Party supporters led by the Chairperson Marcella Liburd, stood outside on the Greenlands pasture some carrying placards.

 

“It is rather unfortunate that after putting this country into difficulties when the Denzil Douglas administration blatantly refused to heed to Interpol’s advisory, he would allow his surrogates to come to make attempts at heckling me so as to deflect his misdeeds, and the chairperson of the party should agree to lead those hecklers,” pointed out Prime Minister Harris.

 

“What is even worse is that the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party chairperson who, as a lawyer should know better has gone on air to laud what the Denzil Douglas Administration did, saying that she was very happy about it. All right thinking persons should judge the Denzil Douglas administration based on what the party chairperson has said in praise of the misdeeds of her leader who had been advised about those alleged Chinese fugitives while on a flight to St. Kitts but went against that advisory and did not act as requested.”

 

Responding to criticism raised against him as to why he did not call a press conference but instead went to the Michael Powell’s show on Sugar City 90.3 FM, Prime Minister Harris responded by saying that his appearance on the show had been advertised well in advance, and that his Press Conference for Wednesday May 10 has also been well advertised.

 

“The SKNLP Chairperson is a stranger to the truth. The Press Conference especially has been advertised and members of the free media will be given an opportunity to raise their questions,” said Prime Minister Harris. “I do not understand why the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party chairperson would go on air to create mischief by calling for what is already on schedule. I also made a national address last evening (Tuesday May 9) at 7:00 pm which was carried live by ZIZ TV and Radio.”

 

He concluded: “We have facilitated ample opportunities to keep the public rightly up to date with the issue as it has unfolded.”

 

ENDS