BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LEADER of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition the Hon. Mark Brantley is calling on Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas to give the nation an explanation about the government’s perceived silence over a multi-million dollar debt forgiveness package given to the Federation.
According to Brantley, in 2008 the Italian government cancelled a EC$91M debt owed to it by the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. He explained that the confusion stems not from the forgiveness of the debt, but from the government’s apparent silence on the matter and also the absence of this piece of information from the budget and other relevant documentation.
“It does suggest,when one does a search online, that the Italian government, through its agency called SACE, has given St. Kitts-Nevis debt forgiveness in 2008 in the sum of some $91M. The confusion has come because no one seems to be able to say where that money is and how it has been accounted for. And the question has to be asked why is it that it has not been reflected in the budget and various documents”.
“There may very well be a good explanation. I don’t know but I think it raises the question, because if there is debt forgiveness for the Federation there is also an issue of whether or not the people of Nevis have accessed that, to have any benefit from it. So, it is a legitimate question and it requires an answer.”
The Opposition Leader said he has no intention of writing to the Prime Minister concerning the matter as his previous correspondences remain unanswered, without even the courtesy of an acknowledgement of receipt. He however made a call for Dr. Douglas, as the Minister of Finance and also as Prime Minister of the Federation, to simply provide a clarification and or details of the transaction.
“I will tell you candidly that I have, in this past year, repeatedly written to the Prime Minister on various matters. The Prime Minister has not even acknowledged that he has received correspondence from me. Such is the arrogance of his office. Such is his approach to members of the Opposition that even though I have high constitutional duties as Leader of the Opposition, he does not even acknowledge that he received a letter from me. So there is zero communication on his part and despite my best attempts. And I don’t think that there is any need on my part to write to him, yet again…He is the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance. He owes the nation an explanation.”
“I am calling on the government to give a simple explanation. If there is one, then the government should be willing to explain what the position is. I don’t think that is asking too much. We live in a democracy and it behooves the government to respond. And that is what I am asking for; a simple explanation. If there has been an oversight and the matter has already been mentioned, then say so. But it can’t be that the Italian government announced to the world debt forgiveness but, somehow, the government here doesn’t know about it. That seems a bit strange to me.”
When contacted by SKNVibes and asked about the issue, the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Erasmus Williams, said he has no comment and advised that the Attorney General’s Chambers should be contacted. However, having placed a call there, this media house was informed that the Attorney General was not in office.
Brantley expressed that an explanation would be demanded of the Prime Minister, and “if he doesn’t do so willingly, then we will certainly have to deal with it on airwaves, on the highways and the byways, in the media and in every facet that’s available to us, because these are matters which ought not - ought not at all - to be held in secret”.
