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GRANT LOSES! Minister Complies with Court Order on the Eve of His Summons Hearing

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A day before he was scheduled to appear before the High Court in Basseterre to face a judge over his failure to adhere to the court’s order to pay BuzzMaker it’s consulting fees and cost, St. Kitts & Nevis Tourism Minister Lindsay Grant made payment of the full amount owed to the political consulting firm.

BuzzMaker has been in a protracted legal battle with Minister Grant. After years of refusing to pay monies owed, the prominent global political consulting firm filed suit against Minister Grant in 2015.

In September 2016, the High Court of St. Kitts & Nevis found the Minister liable for election related debts to the political consulting firm. In September 2018, the High Court ordered Minister Grant to pay BuzzMaker the principle plus interest and cost. In spite of receiving those orders, Minister Grant continued to delay payment.

As a result, early in 2019, BuzzMaker filed a motion with the court to hold a summons hearing to inquire why Minister Grant failed to pay the judgment. Minister Grant paid the full judgment a day before the hearing was scheduled on 26 March 2019.

BuzzMaker’s lead attorney on the matter, Nevis-based Kurlyn Merchant of Merchant Legal Chambers said, “We are blessed here in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to have a strong, independent and impartial judiciary. I think it’s important for all international business people and investors doing business in the Federation to maintain confidence in our judiciary.” Says he is elated with the decision.

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Labour Party Press Conference will feature full slate of candidates for upcoming elections

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The full slate of eight candidates for the opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) to contest the next general elections expected within months, is expected to appear together at the Labour Party’s monthly press conference this Wednesday afternoon.

Leon Natta-Nelson, the newest candidate, who has not been officially announced, is also expected to appear on the Labour Party’s rostrum on Thursday night, March 28 at a political meeting in his home village of Molineux.

The completion of the slate follows Monday’s landmark ruling by High Court Judge His Lordship Mr Justice Eddy Ventose that public officers had the constitutional right to seek elective office and participate in political activity.

“This decision by Justice Ventose is vindication not solely because the government through the office of the Prime Minister thought it best because of my presumptuous candidacy in No. 7, whether or not he’s trying to run unopposed, but the importance of it is that the justice system works, and the civil servants now have the opportunity to express themselves responsibly and respectively in and about the political arenas of St Kitts and Nevis and that by far is the biggest achievement when it comes to civil service in this country.”
“I, Leon Natta-Nelson, will accept the challenges that lay ahead in accepting the candidacy for Constituency #7. as the Labour Party representative,” he said after the court ruling on Monday.

Natta-Nelson, a senior customs officer/accountant at Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise was informed by letter dated October 10th 2018 from the Human Resource Management Department in the Office of Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris that it had received “an adverse report of his involvement in political activity” thus contravening the Public Service (Conduct and Ethics of Officers) Code.

The letter alleged “that on or about the end of June 2018, Leon Natta-Nelson, did introduce yourself to a resident of Christ Church Village, Christ Church, St. Kitts, as a candidate of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party running against the Hon. Dr Timothy Harris for the next general election and also “on or about the end of June 2018 did seek to solicit and or canvass support for your political campaign from a resident of Christ Church, St. Kitts.”

In the 2015 General Election, the Labour Party lost two St. Kitts seats it held – St. Christopher 1 by 4 votes and St. Christopher 4 by 26 votes.
The SKNLP is the largest single party in St. Kitts and Nevis, gaining 11,897 votes to the Peoples Action Movement (PAM), 8,452 votes; the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) 3,951 votes; the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), 3,276 votes and Timothy Harris’ People’s Labour Party (PLP), 2,723 votes.
Seatwise in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, the PAM holds 4 seats, the SKNLP, 3 seats, the CCM, two seats; the NRP and the PLP, 1 seat each.
Harris’ three-party coalition is made up of the PLP, CCM and PAM.

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Ricky Skerritt elected new president of West Indies Cricket.

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Basseterre, St Kitts, March 24, 2019 – Former St Kitts and Nevis tourism minister Richard “Ricky” Skerritt is the new president of Cricket West Indies.

Skerritt, 62, defeated the incumbent president Dave Cameron 8-4 at the presidential election on Sunday on his own soil at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.
Cameron was seeking a fourth term in office after serving three two terms.

Richard “Ricky” Skerritt first served as Minister of State for Tourism, Sports & Culture from November 2004. in the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Government Prime Minister , the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas.

He was then appointed Minister of Tourism & International Transport following the 2010 elections. In February 2013, International Trade, Industry, Commerce& Consumer Affairs were added to his responsibilities.

Skerritt has significant experience in private enterprise, economic development, community service and professional sports. Over the years, he has spearheaded St. Kitts’ impressive growth in air service and pioneered the island’s cruise sector which has been developed into a leading economic driver.

Skerritt is a former Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), where he initiated significant reforms. He was the Caribbean’s longest-serving Minister of Tourism.

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More cries for public housing; demand for housing raises questions about Government numbers on affordable homes

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Despite repeated efforts by the Harris government to proclaim a winning track record in relation to public housing for Kittitians and Nevisians, continued requests from locals point to insufficient affordable housing.

There were several requests to government for help in the procurement of housing at a town hall meeting held by the Unity administration on Tuesday night, March 12.

Minister of Human Settlement, Community Development, Lands and Co-operatives et al, Hon. Eugene Hamilton downplayed the concern of demand of public housing far outweighing supply and indicated that his government is working for the people. He implied that over 110 houses have been constructed in constituencies 7 and 8, since his government got into power.

The concern for affordable continued to resonate though, as repeated requests were made.

Dr. Terrance Drew, the Labour Party caretaker for constituency 8, has consistently lashed out at the government for the alleged inability to provide sufficient and affordable housing for residents.

Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, while responding to frustrated residents who have been desperately trying to see government representatives in relation to housing, implored citizens to be a little more patient.

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Two males, twenty-six-year-old Kareem Jeffers of Thomas Street, Ponds Pasture, and a teenager have been charged

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Two males, twenty-six-year-old Kareem Jeffers of Thomas Street, Ponds Pasture, and a teenager have been charged for the offences of Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition and Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place.

The charges stem from a morning shooting incident in New Town, on February 23.

Both males who were assisting the Police with their investigations into the occurrence were subsequently charged yesterday, February 26.

According to the Police, on Saturday, around 7 a.m, police officers and soldiers, who were patrolling the area at the time, reported that they heard what appeared to be gunshots. They then observed two armed, masked males running. Both individuals were later apprehended in Ponds Pasture and taken into Police custody.

The release further states that a search was conducted in the Ponds Pasture area and one black mask, along with one Taurus pistol with eleven (11) rounds of 9 mm ammunition and one Glock pistol with thirteen (13) rounds of .40 ammunition were discovered on an abandoned premises.

Security forces have stepped up foot patrols throughout various communities in St. Kitts and Nevis in a direct measure to counter an increase in gun related crimes in the twin island state.

Former Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Officer Bijon Warner is in custody in the United States and is awaiting extradition

Former Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Officer Bijon Warner is in custody in the United States and is awaiting extradition

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Former Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police officer Bijon Warner is in custody in the United States and is awaiting extradition to St. Kitts and Nevis, according to Acting Commissioner Hilroy Brandy.

Warner had absconded after an internal investigation was launched into his involvement in the shooting of the late Dominican-born officer, Brian Pacquette, who succumbed to the gunshot wound after and an altercation in June 2018 with Gretson Isaac which resulted in Isaac sustaining injuries that required treatment at the Joseph N France hospital.

There were numerous concerns as to how former officer Warner was able to abscond. Police Chief Ian Queeley, who is currently on leave, admitted that young man had fled, ultimately becoming a fugitive.

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Murder again as gunmen defy hard-talking top cop

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One young man has been viciously gunned as Police grapple with yet another broad morning shooting incident. The murder occurred in the Lime Kiln area and comes after a recent pledge by the Police High Command of a victory in crime fighting.

Reliable sources have indicated that the young man was cut down in a barrage of bullets just around 7 o’clock this morning, February 25.

Unofficial reports give the name of the victim as Shavaughn Hendricks.

The circumstances surrounding this latest fatality are still unknown but Police have given the assurance that investigations are ongoing. An appeal has been made for anyone with information about the murder to follow up with the Police, who have promised strict confidentiality.
Gun violence has taken the lives of eight youths – all males – for 2019, with the last seven murders taking place within a three week span.

Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for Crime, Andre Mitchell, has indicated that the Police are committed to tame the apparent ploys of several peace breakers in society.

“We, as the principal law enforcement entity, must respond in partnership with other agencies like…the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Customs [Department]. We must respond and respond we shall,” he said.

He also indicated that all of us are complicit in the fight against wrong doing.

It is not yet known if anyone has been held in relation to this morning’s murder.

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Deputy Leader of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party Hon. Marcella Liburd has lashed out at Prime Minister

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Deputy Leader of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party Hon. Marcella Liburd has lashed out at Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris and his Cabinet for hosting a Parliamentary sitting grounded on trickery.

Liburd indicated that yesterday’s Parliamentary session, February 20, was designed to keep the opposition from speaking.

The order paper for Wednesday’s sitting of Parliament stated that the item up for discussion was the creation of a “Commissioner of Prisons” position but the agenda was changed at the start of the House.

The proceeding was dotted with speeches from the government side but none from the opposition.

Pandemonium in Court; magistrate and prosecution at odds

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St. Kitts and Nevis Magistrate Court is in turmoil after Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Valston Graham stopped his staff from appearing before Magistrate Donna Harris, a sister of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.

The incident has seemingly underscored strained relations between members of the legal fraternity and the magistrate, spanning years.

According to an eyewitness, the matters on Monday morning, February 4, escalated when Magistrate Donna Harris instructed five co-accused who were appearing before the Court for the first time to plead.

However, this procedure is wrong since these were indictable matters.

Crown Counsel Mr. Teshaun Vasquez tried on several occasions to bring this to the attention of Magistrate Harris, but she refused to hear him.

Harris ordered Vasquez to sit and eventually ordered him to leave her court room.

It was reported that DPP Graham after receiving a report of the matter made the decision that the Crown Counsel’s ejection was unlawful and therefore no prosecutor or court orderly will attend Magistrate Harris’ Court until further notice.

It is understood that DPP Graham has written to acting senior magistrate Reynold Benjamin requesting an urgent meeting to have the matter ventilated.

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