PM Harris ordered to provide cabinet decisions, other documents to Opposition Leader Douglas in Regenerative Stem Cell matter
High Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Eddy Ventose has ordered the Federation’s Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris to provide Leader of the Opposition the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas with documents in relation to the so-called Stem Cell matter.
Prime Minister Harris has until August 2, 2019 to provide Dr Douglas with several documents including the letter authorizing the St Kitts Institute for Regenerative Medicine to start up business, certified copies of decisions of the Cabinet, a list of medical personnel who worked on the project, the customs declaration forms and evidence that the umbilical cord blood or blood samples were procured by reputable international cord blood banks.
The Stem Cell matter went to court after Dr Harris took action against Dr Douglas claiming that he was libeled in a speech on 22 June 2016.
Dr Douglas in an amended defence on 5 December 2016 claimed that the words to which Dr Harris had complained of “were fair comment based on qualified privilege.”
On 6 March 2019, Dr Douglas moved the court seeking several documents from Dr Harris.
Following a hearing on 29 June 2019, Justice Ventose in a 22 July 2019 ruling granted Dr Douglas’ application.
Justice Ventose further ordered Prime Minister Harris to give Dr Douglas all the documents by close of business on 2 August 2019.
The High Court Judge also instituted an injunction restraining or prohibiting Dr Douglas, his servants, agents, subordinate or otherwise from using any of the documents disclosed otherwise than in the course of these proceedings except to the extent to which any of those documents have become part of the public domain.
Dr Harris has been ordered to pay Dr Douglas the sum of $1500.
Dr Douglas was represented by Mr Sylvester Anthony and Mrs Angelina Gracy Sookoo-Bobb. Dr Harris was represented by Mr Dane Hamilton QC and Mr Victor Elliott Hamilton.
