BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Team Unity Administration has responded to criticisms levelled by the Opposition over its members frequent travel abroad on government business, including the Prime Minister’s recent trip to the Philippines to collect an award, thereby shunning the Prince Henry of Wales’ visit to the Federation.
Since taking office in February 2015, Government Ministers have been frequently travelling out of the Federation and many criticisms were levelled against them by the Opposition, political commentators and some members of the public, with many of them indicating that they do not often see the benefits of those travels.
During his response to the Prime Minister’s Budget Address in the National Assembly yesterday (Dec. 8), Former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas again criticised the Government on that issue.
However, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture et al, the Hon. Shawn Richards rebuffed those criticisms and declared that the former PM was suffering from “unethical amnesia” while “forgetting his misdeeds”.
“One of the things that he spoke about was that Prince Harry was here and the Prime Minister was not here to greet him. But I want to utter the point here that the people of this country is more important that any Prince and any Queen,” Richards said.
The Minister reminded the National Assembly about Dr. Douglas’ trips abroad, including his 2010 trip to Libya where he was seeking investment while leaving the country without an official leader, as no member of Government was sworn in at that time.
Quoting from a 2010 article published on the website of a local radio station to drive home his point, Richard stated that five days after his departure from the Federation, “Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas has said that he is in Tripoli, Libya, where he has met the government of that country about interest in investing in the Eastern Caribbean...Prime Minister Dr. Douglas arrived in Libya after participating in the African Heads of Government Summit. Meanwhile, there is no indication as to who is in charge of the government while Prime Minister Douglas is away, as a Deputy Prime Minister has not yet been sworn in.”
Richard charged that the then PM had disrespected the people of St. Kitts and Nevis by not having any Deputy Prime Minister in place before he left the country.
His statements were in response to Dr. Douglas’ accusation of Prime Minister Harris being disrespectful to the young Prince by not being in the country to greet him after knowing of his scheduled arrival.
Minister Richard also told the House that up to the time of demitting office, Dr. Douglas had not cleared all of his travel advances with the Government.
“...Advances totalling $199,894.50 still uncleared with the Government Treasury,” Richards said.
But Dr. Douglas contends that the Team Unity Administration had incurred more than $1M in travel, while disclosing that he is owed monies used out of his pocket for travel while as Political Leader of the country.
Rising on a Point of Order, he said, “The Member is not being truthful and fully representing what the facts are. When I left office there might have been advances uncleared, but the Government has over two hundred or maybe three hundred thousand dollars for me which is travel, where I used my own money. Up to now they have not been settled by the Ministry of Finance.”
Dr. Douglas claimed that documents were submitted to the Ministry of Finance for payment but they are yet to be acted upon.
Debate on the $712.9M Budget continues today, where several other Ministers are expected to support the Appropriation Bill, but Members on the Opposition Benches have indicated that they would not be there.
