Basseterre (11th November 2009) - Chairman of the St. Kitts Christian Council, Rev. Fr. Isaiah Phillip, has called a press release purportedly to have come from the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) as malicious.

The press release was sent to the media on November 10 and was purportedly sent from the CIC with e-mail address: sknchamber@sisterisles.kn. Although purported to have come from the CIC, the release did not bear the official letter head of the CIC. The release also claimed to be a joint statement by The St. Kitts Christian Council, The St. Kitts Evangelical Association and the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce. There were no signatures affixed to the release from any of the three organizations.

When approached about the press release, Fr. Isaiah said that he was “flabbergasted and annoyed” that such a thing had taken place.

“I would venture to go as far as to say that the release of it was malicious…When I look at all the facts, I believe the release was malicious,” Fr. Isaiah said.

Fr. Isaiah said that the three organizations named in the press release had arrived at no agreement on any statement.

“Well I can confirm that our three organizations are always in discussions on matters of national interest and importance, and we have been discussing issues to do with electoral reform and boundaries.

“We have not agreed on any statement. There are draft statements that were prepared, but we have not agreed on anything,” he said.

"Well, I was told by email that a draft that had been prepared for discussion was released to someone. I don’t know the details of it. I have heard that it was read, but I want to reiterate that we have no agreement and no statement to release,” Fr. Isaiah added.

Questions abound as to how a draft was released and who is responsible for that leak.

Before the press release was sent to the media on November 10, Chairman of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Mr. Sydney Osbourne, read a copy of the same press release on Inside the News on Saturday November 7. 
   
“We have a press release from the Christian Council, the Evangelical Association and the Chamber,” the PAM Chairman said on Inside the News. 

Mr. Osbourne used the press release as his point of departure to lash out against the Labour Government. 

“We therefore urge ‘a stop, look and listen approach’ at this time which would demonstrate to our Nation and to the world, a sense of political maturity and a desire to do the best for all of the people of our beloved Country regardless of political affiliation,” Mr. Osbourne read from part of the press release.

“This was sent out by the St. Kitts Christian Council, the St. Kitts Evangelical Association [and] the St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce,” he said.

However, Fr. Isaiah said that he wanted “to reiterate that we have no agreement and no statement to release.”

Up to press time on Wednesday, attempts to reach Chairman of the CIC, Mr. Mark Wilkin, proved futile as it was said he was off island. Attempts to reach Executive Director of the CIC, Ms. Wendy Phipps also proved futile as she was out of office.

President of the Evangelical Association, Bishop Ron Collins, said he had no comment until all three organizations had met to discuss serious the matter.