BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FEDERAL Minister of Aviation, Hon. Mark Brantley has declared that an investigation is underway into reports of alleged security breaches at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre by a Government Minister.
Reports surfaced that the Minister had breached the airport security on several occasions, with the most recent allegedly occurring in late March.
Speaking on a recent edition of WINN FM’s ‘Inside the News’, Minister Brantley explained that he was called by a journalist for a response on the alleged breaches.
“Sometimes callers seek to put into our mouths things that we have not said. I recall being called by Mr. Ken Richards and I did say to him that I have seen some allegations that were being raised on social media. And I want to make it very clear that everybody is a journalist on social media.
“The term fake news couldn’t have had any currency if it was not for social media; people can go on social media and say most and anything. They have said many things about me and I am left to wonder what they are talking about.
“So I do not normally respond to allegations made on social media, and I said to Mr. Richards, who I respect as a journalist, that I had no formal report of any incident and I had only seen some commentary on social media. I think that is a fair comment to make.
“As the Minister, I do not know that it is my job to respond to things that are not brought to my attention and only on social media. I made that point and I agree with that. That does not mean, however, that I am seeking to cover up anything, and I want to make that very clear.
“…I think I would have said to him that I have had an indication from my technical people and that the matter was being investigated. And that is where, even to today, the matter now stands that my technical people are looking at this. They are looking at these allegations, they are looking at various reports that have been made to the Ministry of Aviation and I have asked for a full report to be compiled on the incident. And so, as soon as that is done and there is information that we can share with the public, I will be more than willing to do that.”
Fingers have been pointing at the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Ian Liburd, who denied the allegations when asked by a caller to his radio programme (Straight Talk).
“It is totally false, totally false! He exclaimed. “It is totally false and that is all I will say.”
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris was also asked for a response on the allegations at his recent Monthly Press Conference.
“Like the Minister of Aviation, I don’t know of that. You know this is the season perhaps for rumour mongering,” the PM said.
