BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE recently-appointed Attorney-General of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Vincent Byron Jr., emphatically stated that rumours of the National Unity Government had and would discriminate against members of the Public Service who are loyal to the former Administration are false.
The AG’s statement comes in the wake of pronouncements made by former Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas during an interview with WINN FM.
“I am saying that I want to make it absolutely clear and send a warning to the new Government that it cannot treat public servants in the way I have been told they have been treated this morning (Feb. 19) when they went to the different government offices to work.
“I have had complaints from the Electoral Office where persons were ordered outside by armed police. They went to work, they have been paid to work...they are public servants. They have been ordered out of my own office where I occupied previously, the Office of the Prime Minister.”
Dr. Douglas claimed that he has personal properties in his former office and that his Personal Assistant was denied access to the office.
“I have sent information to the Police High Command that I have personal effects in that office that need to be to be moved. My Personnel Assistant, Beverly, has been there since morning; none of them has been allowed to go into certain offices there – the office of the Prime Minister, the office of the Cabinet Secretary and that whole line of offices on the top floor. They have been turned out of the offices and been prevented from going in like sheep.”
He said that the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is not going to accept victimisation in the country and should he be forced to call on his supporters, he certainly would so do.
“I am not going to accept that! The Labour Party is not going to accept that in this country! I have been calm, I have been quiet, if I have to call my people out to ensure that they are not going to be victimised in this way, I will do it.”
The former Prime Minister said that his Personal Assistant was turned away on four occasions and made reference to Dr. Simmonds’ Personal Assistant when he had lost the Elections in 1995.
“Beverly has been there twice, she was turned away two days ago. Twice she has been up there to work today (Thursday)...all of my staff all outside. I have personal effects in my office. When the Government was last changed, Dr. Simmonds Personal Assistant was allowed to be in there over one month until she decided to retire. I didn’t chase anyone out! She was allowed to take up the personal effects of Dr. Simmonds. Why is this happening?”
In an interview with this publication, Senator Byron explained what transpired when he, Prime Minister Harris and other members of Team Unity arrived at Government Headquarters.
“When we got there, the Prime Minister’s office was filled with boxes and files and the property of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, and it was thought prudent that they be secured and sorted before anyone who was not a part of the Government be allowed to have access to them.”
He also addressed the issue concerning Dr. Douglas’ personal effects.
“In relation to Dr. Douglas’ personal belongings, arrangements are being made for them to be properly boxed, stored and arrangements for him to come and collect them within a couple of days.”
Byron noted that they are unaware of what files are in the offices and promised that all personal properties of employees would be properly taken care of.
“I think it is important to understand that we want a smooth transition of Government. We are still yet to understand what files are available and what we are doing, but as we go along we will be able to have those who have left their personal belongings behind collect them. And we will make sure that they are kept in good order and that there is no destruction of anybody’s property in any way.
“We also hope to emulate and to make sure our promises of having proper and fair ways of doing governance will be upheld. It is well important to us that we make sure we do what is right by the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The Attorney-General stressed that his Government would not victimise anyone and the police had advised that all offices be secured based on unconfirmed reports.
“We have said constantly and we keep saying that there will be no victimisation. Yesterday, when we got to the Government Headquarters, instructions had been given by the police to secure all of the rooms because there had been reports that files were being taken away. We do not have any knowledge of it, but the police then secured the various offices.”
He however informed that during the course of yesterday (Feb. 19), instructions were eventually given for the staff to re-enter their offices once they did not take anything away. ‘Because it is very important that we do not want to see there is any destruction of government property, any important documents or anything of that nature, as we would not be doing justice to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
Byron explicated that Team Unity is the People’s Government and it would do what is right.
“We will do what is right as servants of the people! We will serve the people and we expect that there will be cooperation on all sides and the Public Service.”
He explained that himself and Dr. Harris held a meeting this morning with Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department of the Public Service at the NEMA building, where they welcomed them and reiterated that they wanted to work with them as well as to have their cooperation for a smooth transition.
“We know that it’s been a long time since there has been a change of government, but governments come and governments go. And we insist that we will do what is right for the people and that we hope we will have the support and cooperation of the Public Service; and we in turn pledge that there will be no victimisation on our part. If it is that we do not get the cooperation of anyone, or if anyone tries in any way to impede and prevent us from carrying out our mandate, we will take the appropriate steps to have them dealt with at this point in time, Senator Byron added.
Yesterday, in an interview with WINN FM’s Ken Richards, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris said: “I would say it would be a concern which very shortly would, as it were, retire from their minds that we have pledged no victimisation. And I intend to hold faithful to that commitment and undertaking,” when asked for his views on the concern of some people about discrimination by the new Administration against individuals who may be loyal to the former Government.
