Confirms he wanted a new Permanent Secretary
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN an address to the nation which insinuated that Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas lacks decorum and has little or no respect for him, Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor vented his feelings on the recent portfolio changes to his ministry.
“Having organised the Passing of the Baton Ceremony for the incoming Commissioner of Police, slated for a couple of hours later, and being mindful that I was still the Minister and having the highest regard and respect for the officers of the St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and indeed for the nation as a whole, I attended and concluded my duties in a professional manner.
“It was at the conclusion of the Toasting Ceremony at the Police Training Complex that the Prime Minister informed me that he was scheduled to make a broadcast that night. I leave you to judge the level of respect, decorum and propriety meted out,” Condor said in his radio broadcast on WINN FM 98.9.
Minister Condor’s address was in response to statements made by Dr. Douglas on Wednesday (Aug. 31) during a broadcast to the nation on ZIZ Television and Radio, in which he announced that his Deputy, who for just over 19 months headed the Ministry of National Security, was stripped of his responsibilities of the Police and Defence Forces.
Dr. Douglas declared that acting on his advice and keeping with the Constitution, the Governor-General had assigned the Police and Defence Forces to him.
He noted that Condor would continue to hold all of his other portfolios in a restructured Ministry, restyled the Ministry of Homeland Security, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Social Security, and that the Department of Home Land Security would include Immigration, Passports, Prisons, Fire & Rescue Services and the National Emergency Management Agency.
Following this announcement, Condor failed to show up in Parliament on Thursday and Friday for the debate on the Gang (Prohibition and Prevention) Act Bill and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Crime and Violence, which some individuals claimed that his absence was indicative of his displeasure with the changes made by Dr. Douglas. And that the move was made to fortify Astona Browne’s position, who Condor said he did not want as his Permanent Secretary.
However, on Friday (Sept. 2) in Parliament, Dr. Douglas debunked the statement and accusation and told the House that Minister Condor and all members of the Executive knew he was going to dismantle the Ministry of National Security.
“…So this nonsense that is being pedalled out there that some members of the Cabinet ain’t know what is going…is absolute nonsense, deliberately malicious in making those statements. Am I a crazy man just to get up one morning and change portfolios? Every single member of the Cabinet knew that this was being contemplated…the Executive I should say.
“And the Department of Legal knows…and it was on Monday that the final council was put in place in a meeting and it was eventually exercised on Wednesday when I made the final announcement. So, here we have the opposition trying to create mischief, and those out there who were on this side fighting crime and who failed, out there writing on the internet all kinds of nonsense!”
Condor’s explanation of prior knowledge to the changes, however, differs somewhat to that of Dr. Douglas.
“On Sunday, August 28 on his return to the Federation, the Prime Minister informed me of his view that the country was calling on him to take a lead in national security. My interpretation was that the nation wanted him to demonstrate support in terms of speaking out and providing the resources required.
“This line of discussions continued into the following day, Monday 29th, ending with the understanding that we should meet again and further discuss the level of the Prime Minister’s involvement in the ministry.
“However, on Wednesday, August 31, having completed the second reading in Parliament of the Anti-Gang Prohibition Bill, I was invited to the Speaker’s office by the Prime Minister and there told of the decision to take unto himself the Police, Defence Force, Prisons and Fire Services in a configuration called Homeland Security, leaving the remainder of national security in a configuration called Border Security.”
Minister Condor stressed that his position remains the same, that “there was absolutely no need for a split at this time”.
The Deputy Prime Minister also confirmed that he did not want Astona Browne as his Permanent Secretary.
“I am satisfied that substantial work has been undertaken with a view to transforming the ministry into a policy-focus organisation. I have remained fully committed to employ measures so as to ensure that its administrative leadership is rendered in such a manner that would render improved communication and some semblance of good order and efficiency.
“I did conclude that it was practically impossible to achieve this objective with an accounting officer who, amongst other things, constantly made policy decisions without advising or consulting with me as minister. For these reasons, along with other public concerns, and after careful deliberation, I requested that I be given the opportunity to identify a new Permanent Secretary in an effort to take the ministry forward.”
He is of the view that a golden opportunity for national coalition on crime and violence was sacrificed with the denial of his request and the decisions made by Dr. Douglas.
Minister Condor noted that his understanding of Dr. Douglas’ broadcast was to make the Ministry of National Security defunct.
“If I understand the broadcast correctly, he is saying essentially that there will no longer be a Ministry of National Security at a time when it is so very critical that we be seen as a united combative force against the perpetrators of this evil war against our land. Not a confused, fragmented agency; for it is exactly this kind of perceived cloudy vision that evildoers gain strength and momentum.”
Minister Condor highlighted a number of initiatives he had implemented and others he had intended to implement in the fight against crime.
Earlier in his address, Minister Condor explained the reason for him speaking to the nation on WINN FM and not ZIZ.
“I wish to apologise for being unable to speak to the nation via the medium of our national radio and television, because of a decision taken by Minister Carty and the Chairman of ZBC to deny me the privilege of broadcasting live.
“The Deputy Prime Minister’s speech, I was told, would have to be prerecorded and vetted prior to broadcast in this our democratic country. This I deem to be part of the unfolding of a sick, dark and sinister plot of a depraved mind and constitutes a most regrettable turn of events which must be closely monitored.”
Despite his loss of responsibility, the Hon. Sam Condor declared that he had always been and would remain loyal and committed to the cause and service to God, the Federation and its people.
