6th August 2019

Is St Kitts – Nevis PM above the law?

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By Caribbean News Now

BASSETERRE, St Kitts – St Kitts and Nevis’ prime minister Dr Timothy Harris has seemingly deferred with a High Court Order in the high-profile international stem cell case, on Friday, August 2, as per the order of His Lordship Justice Eddy Ventose.

Prime minister Harris was ordered to provide leader of the opposition Dr Denzil L 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.

According to Dr Douglas [late Friday], “neither my legal team of Sylvester Anthony Law Chambers nor my office had received any of the documents ordered.”

As a result, Dr Douglas gave “instructions to his lawyers to file an application at the Court for Dr Harris to be held in contempt, and for appropriate action to be taken, including the issuance of an arrest warrant to find and detain Dr Harris whose whereabouts are no longer being disclosed.”

Meanwhile the country is awaiting the outcome of this impasse between the High Court of St Kitts and Nevis and the prime minister, over the last four years since Dr Harris has been leading the Coalition government, citizens, residents, civil society including the Bar Association, and the parliamentary opposition of St Kitts and Nevis have expressed grave concerns relating to the conduct of Dr Harris.

Ostensibly, he flouts the law and behaves as if he’s above the law. Subsequently, his nepotistic appointments of his sisters Janine Harris-Lake to the High Court as Registrar and acting Magistrate; and another Donna Harris appointed as District Magistrate in the Constituency that Dr Harris represents in parliament. 

Besides, Dr Harris’ brother, Denzil Harris is also second in command at Her Majesty’s Prisons.

Nonetheless, according to a memo to permanent secretaries, the cabinet secretary Josephine Huggins seemingly left the country for Canada on “long leave vacation”. 

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