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.