St Vincent and the Grenadines

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PM Harris ordered to provide cabinet decisions, other documents to Opposition Leader Douglas in Regenerative Stem Cell matter

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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.

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PM Harris tells Antigua counterpart it will be “a declaration of war” if one of his ministers speaks at an opposition event in St Kitts

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St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Timothy Harris threatened the Hon. Michael Browne, Minister of Education, Science and Technology for Antigua and Barbuda- and by extension the government of Antigua and Barbuda- with unprecedented backlash, if Browne spoke at the launch of St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party candidate for constituency, Leon Natta Nelson, on Saturday evening, June 22.

The bombshell revelation was made by Minister Browne himself, as he addressed the crowd at the launch, which is also Prime Minister Harris’ constituency.

Browne said his visit to participate in the Labour Party candidate’s launch was deemed as a ‘declaration of war’ by Prime Minister Harris and the St. Kitts and Nevis went on to say Browne’s safety cannot be guaranteed and he may not be able to come back to St. Kitts and Nevis, as per statements made by Prime Minister Harris to Browne’s leader, Hon. Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda.

“The prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis called my Prime Minister and he expressed abhorrence that I am coming to St Kitts to speak at this function…the charge was that my presence here – me coming here to speak – ‘is a declaration of war’. There was a boomeranging of thoughts in my mind all morning, while I was on the Strip having breakfast, while I was working the phones including with the good efforts of your comrade leader (Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas), and these were some of the concerns that troubled me coming from a democratic perspective. If Michael Browne speaks, not only will it be a demonstration of a ‘declaration of war,’ but ‘we will not be able to guarantee his safety. If he speaks, not only will we be able to guarantee his safety, but he may not be able to come back to St Kitts,” the Antiguan Minister Browne revealed.

The move by Prime Minister Harris seemingly corroborates allegations of attempts to stiff-arm anyone who advocates for different opinions to his.

Some are even suggesting that St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs should issue a formal apology to the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for the indecent comments.

Minister Browne’s disclosure initially shocked the audience but ultimately inspired unparalleled support from the crowd attending the launch.

He, however stopped short of disclosing what his Prime Minister – Hon. Gaston Browne- advised.

There has been no response from St. Kitts and Nevis’ government in relation to the Antigua and Barbuda Minister’s claims.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Timothy Harris threatened the Hon. Michael Browne, Minister of Education, Science and Technology for Antigua and Barbuda- and by extension the government of Antigua and Barbuda- with unprecedented backlash, if Browne spoke at the launch of St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party candidate for constituency, Leon Natta Nelson, on Saturday evening, June 22.

The bombshell revelation was made by Minister Browne himself, as he addressed the crowd at the launch, which is also Prime Minister Harris’ constituency.

Browne said his visit to participate in the Labour Party candidate’s launch was deemed as a ‘declaration of war’ by Prime Minister Harris and the St. Kitts and Nevis went on to say Browne’s safety cannot be guaranteed and he may not be able to come back to St. Kitts and Nevis, as per statements made by Prime Minister Harris to Browne’s leader, Hon. Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda.

The move by Prime Minister Harris seemingly corroborates allegations of attempts to stiff-arm anyone who advocates for different opinions to his.

Some are even suggesting that St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs should issue a formal apology to the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for the indecent comments.

Minister Browne’s disclosure initially shocked the audience but ultimately inspired unparalleled support from the crowd attending the launch.

Saturday night’s official launch of Leon Natta Nelson signified a complete slate of candidates- eight – for the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party for elections that are constitutionally due by early next year.

There has been no response from government in relation to the Antigua and Barbuda Minister’s claims.

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Ross student shot in leg during attempted robbery reports say

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A male student of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) is currently hospitalised at the Jospeh N France Hospital, after being shot in the leg during an attempted robbery, several sources have revealed.

The incident occurred last night, June 18, around 11 30 p.m, persons with knowledge of the situation have disclosed.

Police have confirmed that there was an incident but have not given much detail, only saying that a release will be sent out shortly.

Credible sources also indicate that a vehicle was also stolen during the alleged robbery.

This is a developing story and more details will be available during our evening newscast.

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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.

PM Gonsalves and Guadeloupe Premier 14 March 2019 via OECS

Guadeloupe formally an associate state of the OECS

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Guadeloupe has formally joined the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The overseas department of France officially joined the grouping as an associate member at a ceremony last Thursday, during a special summit which it hosted.

It is the second in the French-speaking Caribbean island to join the OECS, the first being Martinique. The other OECS member states are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia,  St Vincent and the Grenadines, the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla.

OECS Chairman and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves said the accession of the French territory was a momentous occasion in the life of the OECS and in furtherance of the deepening and broadening of the regional integration of small Eastern Caribbean islands.

“The enlargement of the OECS, with the accession of Guadeloupe to associate membership, opens up tremendous possibilities not merely to survive but to thrive more markedly across the arenas of economy, society, culture, and polity,” he said.

“While centuries of European colonial rivalries in the Caribbean have contributed to the fracturing of our countries in differing linguistic groups and a contrived island separateness, it is these contradictions and separations which are the very seeds which pre-dispose our territories to a greater and more perfect union.”

President of the Territorial Council of Guadeloupe Ary Chalus said the accession was a historic moment in the life of the territory, adding that “regional cooperation is not an accessory”.