Government seeks legal advice as investigation reveals opposition leader holds diplomatic passport of Dominica.
Further investigations into the Dr. Denzil Douglas passport matter by the Team Unity-led Administration have found that the former prime minister, now Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, is indeed a holder of a diplomatic passport issued by the Commonwealth of Dominica on July 30th, 2015, bearing the number DP0000462.
That diplomatic passport also lists Dr. Douglas’ nationality as Dominican.
This confirmation was made by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, who also stated that Dr. Denzil Douglas has used this diplomatic passport on several of his foreign trips in the Caribbean and beyond.
Addressing the nation during a press conference held today, Wednesday, October 25, 2017, Prime Minister Harris said this matter raises a serious legal question as to whether or not the Leader of the Opposition is qualified to be a Representative in the National Assembly.
“Having regard to the foregoing evidential matrix and more, and in pursuit of the public interest, and I dare say its duty, the Government has sought a legal opinion on the results of the investigation so far. I want, for example, to refer to Section 28 of the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, and that section [states] that a person shall not be qualified to be elected as a Representative of the National Assembly if he or she is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state,” the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister said while adding thaqt, “This constitutionally-entrenched qualification has been further codified by the National Assembly Elections Act, the act of Parliament passed pursuant to the constitutional grant of power to our Parliament.”
In light of the findings of the investigation, and in its efforts to protect the interests of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris revealed that his Government is “in the process of finalizing an application to the High Court seeking declarations that the Leader of the Opposition is no longer eligible to continue sitting as a Representative in the National Assembly, and that he should be required to vacate his seat.”
During his tenure as prime minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas strongly opposed the notion of elected parliamentary representatives holding dual citizenship, and in 2009, played an instrumental role in bringing several pieces of legislation to Parliament that amended the National Assembly Elections Act.
Now, Prime Minister Harris said the fact that the former prime minister has been found to be the holder of a diplomatic passport of another country also raises several fundamental questions that have yet to be answered by the Opposition Leader.
Dr. Harris continued, “The people of this country call upon Dr. Denzil Douglas to tell the full and unvarnished truth of his standing with the government of Dominica. Is he a paid diplomat and, if yes, how much is he being paid? On how many visits, if any, has he accompanied officials of Dominica on or represented the Government of Dominica on? Will Douglas put personal avarice and self interests above his duty as a Member of Parliament and as the Leader of the Opposition of St. Kitts and Nevis? Has he been promoting, marketing, and soliciting development projects on behalf of Dominica and any other country for that matter at the expense of St. Kitts and Nevis – the country he is pining to lead again? Has he offered the database of our Citizenship by Investment Programme to any other country?”
Recognizing the importance of loyalty, Prime Minister Harris categorically stated that he holds no other passports than those properly issued to him by the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, “and I never have and never will hold allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign state or power.”
