BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A man, purported to be a national of St. Kitts, is in police custody in Barbados after he was caught by Customs Officers at the Grantley Adams International Airport with a firearm and a quantity of ammunition.
According to the Barbados NationNews.com, the man, 35-year-old Malachi Haile Mugabe, was arrested and charged today (Dec. 17) with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of 59 rounds of ammunition, importation of a firearm without a valid licence and importation of ammunition without a valid licence.
The online media house reported that a police release stated that Mugabe had arrived in Barbados by air from Trinidad about 11:20 yesterday morning.
“His luggage was scanned by Customs and the contraband discovered in a false bottom of his luggage. He was handed over to the police and charged for the offences,” NationNews.com quoted the release as saying.
It also stated that he appeared today at the District B Magistrate Court and was remanded until Monday, January 14, 2013.
According to sources, Mugabe is alleged to be an African holding a St. Kitts and Nevis passport through the Economic Citizenship Programme.
The sources opined that this points to the need for more transparency in the Federation’s Economic Citizenship Programme if Mugabe is indeed an economic citizen, because the name of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Programme would be severely injured when situations of such nature arise.
They also opined that Mugabe may well be a native of St. Kitts and Nevis bearing an African name, and it is incumbent upon the authorities to inform the nation if he is a citizen by birth, descent or by investment.
If by purchase, the sources are advising that in the public’s interest the authorities should immediately revoke his citizenship.
