BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DR. TIMOTHY HARRIS is of the view that his sister, Janine Harris-Lake who is the substantive High Court Registrar, was dealt a card of victimisation because of the stance he took against the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration.
Late last year, Harris-Lake was instructed to hand over the government’s keys of which she was in possession, turn over important matters to the appropriate individual and to proceed on vacation leave.
Nearing the end of that stint, Harris-Lake was issued a letter informing that she was again being placed on what has been described as “forced” vacation leave. She was also informed that she had been redeployed to function as the Director of Legal Reform, but the most recent word that Harris-Lake has reportedly received indicated that that position is “still being finalised”.
Dr. Harris, in an exclusive interview with this publication, expressed his view that Harris-Lake is enduring this bout of suffering because the powers that be are aware of the bloodline and are therefore trying to get to him through her.
In January 25, 2013, after taking a very vocal stance against certain decisions and actions of the Dr. Denzil Douglas-led Administration, Harris was fired. Since then, he has formed his own party with the Hon. Sam Condor, the People’s Labour Party (PLP), and has also formed an alliance with the People’s Action Movement and the Concerned Citizens Movement called Team Unity.
“Certainly this is a pattern. The Douglas regime, since I left, has been attempting to get to me. They can’t get to me directly because the love of the people and my standing in the constituency is so deep. They are attempting to get to me by victimising my relatives who are well-qualified; relatives who have served well, relatives who have been promoted based on their performance over the years.
“They can’t find fault with their work, but it is part of the brazen victimisation which Team Unity has to end. And clearly by coming together across the political parties…we have created the first real opportunity in St. Kitts and Nevis that people would be able to hold their jobs, notwithstanding their differing party colours and party affiliation.”
The Constituency Number Seven Parliamentary Representative described the culture of victimisation which continues to be displayed within the Federation as “regrettable.
“I think it is regrettable that we are seeing a clear sign that the government continues on a path of victimisation. Here it is, in this particular case, a sister of mine is being hounded out of her office; indeed a constitutional office as Registrar of the Court. And this is being done by a government which she has served and has served over a very long period of time…
“I would say that it is regrettable that a government that in 1995 came into office promising to end victimisation could be so blatant in prosecuting the victimisation which they are now doing today to Janine.”
Dr. Harris said his sister is qualified to hold the office that she does, and issued a word of encouragement to her to hold strain during her time of testing.
“Janine is a qualified Attorney-at-Law. Having successfully completed all the necessary requirements, she was employed by the government as Crown Counsel and was promoted through the ranks to eventually become Assistant Registrar and then subsequently the Registrar of the High Court.
“I want to encourage her to be strong in the face of this onslaught. This is really a tragedy and an injustice because it shows that the Executive, in order to follow through in its own bad intention, is prepared to interfere with the functioning of the Courts to attack the Registrar in the way in which they have done to seek to hound her out of performing her duties without the necessary approval being granted to them, in my view, is a tragedy and is a travesty of justice in the country.”
