BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OFFICIALS from the Ministry of Finance and the Customs and Excise Department have blasted Bishop Ron Dublin-Collins and the national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) coalition for their “cavalier” response to an incident involving the department and the Evangelical Association (EA).
“We are indeed saddened that the very individuals in our society to whom we look up to as examples for the rest of society to follow would use the platform of the NGO coalition to tarnish the good name of this department,” said Financial Secretary Janet Harris at a press conference yesterday (Feb. 16) at government headquarters.
“That such inaccuracies in language so inflammatory could be used to describe the department’s handling of this matter without first considering their responsibility to check out the facts seems almost treasonable to say the least.
“Collins has sought not only to politicise the incident, but to use his position of influence aided and abetted by elements of the media and privileged society to mislead the unsuspecting public into believing he was a victim of this sordid affair,” she said.
Since December, Collins and the department have been embroiled in a heated back-and-forth over the bishop’s non-payment of a customs service charge. After customs personnel visited Collins at his place of employment in early February, the tussle spilled onto the airwaves, with both the bishop and the coalition issuing statements condemning the department’s behaviour.
In response to what she called an “unjustified attack”, Harris and two customs officials outlined their version of what had transpired between the department and Collins. According to the Financial Secretary, Collins and the EA were required to pay a customs service charge of EC$1 463.09 for a 20-foot container of toys the department had pre-released to them in mid-December.
However, a post-dated cheque signed by Collins was not accepted because of insufficient funds and the absence of another signature. Harris said the department’s efforts to have him rectify the matter resulted in the bishop becoming “rude, dismissive...and even threatening to customs officers”.
Collins was given a 10-day extension to come up with the cash, but after it came and went, a five-person contingent that included one armed police officer and an Assistant Comptroller travelled to Basseterre High School on February 2, where they met with Deputy Principal Carlene Henry-Morton after they were told he was not there.
Collins settled the debt the following day, after which customs officials were notified by the Accountant-General’s office that he had been granted a 15-day extension. At the press conference, Harris and the representatives admitted he was given more leeway than was ordinary and stressed that their behaviour had been above reproach.
“At no time did any officer of this department intimidate, embarrass or terrorise school children or Mr. Collins. At no time did [coalition members] Mark Wilkin or Isaiah Phillip communicate with the department to check the accuracy or veracity of the statements to which they both affixed their signatures.
“We wanted the truth to come out because we have nothing to hide. We thought negotiating and talking would have been the way forward. We apologise if [Collins] felt embarrassed or threatened, but we are not sorry for carrying out the mandate of the department.”
Meanwhile, in a response disseminated to media houses shortly after the press conference, Dublin-Collins referred to the Financial Secretary and the customs department as “instruments of the devil” and “enemies of truth and decency”. He claimed the press conference was an abuse of power and an insult to taxpayers, and accused those involved of spreading “blatant lies”.
The bishop said he was never told of the 10-day extension, nor had he ever used threatening language to customs officials. He indicated his desire to be present for the press conference, but revealed he was turned down admittance by the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Erasmus Williams.
Nonetheless, Collins stated that he was seeking assistance from the regional and international community to help resolve the matter.
