By Floyd French
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – The St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas has instructed his lawyer to begin legal action against the People’s Action Movement Political Leader, Mr. Lindsay Grant and the Democrat newspaper. The Prime Minister said this is “to ensure Mr. Grant and the Democrat are made to pay for their reckless and irresponsible allegations and conduct.”
The legal action against Mr. Grant and the Democrat comes after the PAM leader and the party’s newspaper raised concerns over the Prime Minister renting his property at Adam Hill to the Taiwan Embassy. Mr. Grant has publicly questioned the lease agreement on the grounds that such a relationship between the Prime Minister and the Taiwan Embassy compromises the integrity of the Office of the Prime Minister.
In an interview, Mr. Grant said if members of Cabinet wanted to, for some reason, sever diplomatic ties, the powers of the Prime Minister can prevent such a move. Mr. Grant feels on that basis it was an ill-informed move by the Prime Minister, although there is nothing legally wrong.
“It is a matter of ethics,” he added.
But the “Voice of Change # 6” article includes other political allegations. It accuses the Prime Minister of “flagrant violation of the Constitution” with respect to the process of electoral reform and corruption as it relate to favouritism, and sale of government land. The article goes on list of alleged properties own by the Prime Minister, raising questions over their acquisition.
A statement from Prime Minister Douglas lawyer, Senior Counsel Mr. Anthony Astaphan of Dominica on Wednesday, May 14, noted what he described as “a very disturbing trend taking place in the OECS.”
“In recent times, political parties in opposition have fabricated strategies of ambush and destruction directed at sitting prime ministers. These strategies and their implementation are known as weapons of mass deception. The politically crafted weapons of mass deception are designed to destroy the reputation of political leaders and prime ministers.
“There was and is no corruption, no misfeasance or illegality in the rental of private property to a foreign embassy or government. There is no rule or law whatsoever in the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis which prevents or prohibits any elected minister or prime minister from conducting private business while in public office. It matters not that a foreign state is involved,” said Astaphan.
Mr. Astaphan said that Prime Minister Douglas did not own all the property as alleged by Mr. Grant. He also asserted that the Prime Minister acquired some of the properties before he became Prime Minister in 1995.
Mr. Grant contended that only through proper disclosure laws and integrity in public life laws citizens would be able to maintain the necessary check and balance on those who serve them.
