BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE tension between Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and his Deputy, the Hon. Sam T. Condor, might be growing with the latter recently suggesting that trickery is at work in the Dubai Consulate issue.
Over the past weeks, the issue has consumed the local media via talk shows and a social blog network.
It began when Condor – Senior Cabinet Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs – told the media that he had little or no information concerning a trip to Dubai that his Permanent Secretary and two others were then on to finalise plans for the establishment of a consulate there.
The situation played out vividly before the public’s eyes and saw both Condor and PM Douglas making public statements on the matter.
Condor’s latest statement came in the form of a press release issued late last week in response to a Cabinet release headlined “Cabinet Statement on the Opening of a Consulate in Dubai”. The Cabinet release was disseminated following an April 2, 2012 Cabinet Retreat held at the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel.
It is in his response to the Cabinet release that Condor expressed his view that “a subterfuge is being played out right before our very eyes”.
Some of the main points outlined in the Cabinet Statement are as follows:
• The process of establishing a consulate in Dubai began in 2009 while PM Douglas was Foreign Affairs Minister and continued even after Condor has taken command of that Ministry in 2010.
• As part of that process, dialogue was held between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of the UAE and “The process was formalised through the signing of a Joint Communiqué at the ambassadorial level on 16 June 2010 consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic/Consular Relations. HE Delano Bart signed on behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
• With regard to selecting a consular general to head to the Dubai Consulate, Cabinet considered one of two potions: selecting a St. Kitts-Nevis citizen residing in the UAE to serve as Honorary Consul or selecting one who already serves in consular capacity and one who can be easily deployed.
• The latter option was chosen “consistent with the change in policy of the UAE as it relates to the recognition of Honorary Consuls.
• On February 14, 2011, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a Diplomatic Note initialed by a Senior Foreign Service Officer, sought permission to set up a Consulate. Also, permission was sought and granted “for the appointment of a consul general to Dubai and is satisfied that Ms. Alex Woodley…is eminently qualified”.
• The three members of the team which was dispatched to Dubai in mid-March 2012 to finalise establishment plans, “acted in the ambit of their respective remits”.
• “The composition of the delegation was justified and the Government was convinced that there was no breach of the established procedures of the Service. In fact, the Minister was informed and he raised no objection to the inclusion of his Permanent Secretary on the delegation at that time.”
Condor’s counter release submits that there is glaring evidence that actions taken in establishing a Dubai Consulate were procedurally-unsound. And it is in this regard that he proposed the following questions.
“How and for whatever reason can or should:
(1) A past Line Minister and Permanent Secretary be allowed to continue to operate as though they still have legal and constitutional responsibility for that Ministry?
(2) An Ambassador sign to formalise Foreign relations and seek approval for the Establishment of a Consulate without prior discussions and approval of the legitimate Minister of Foreign Affairs?
(3) A Consul General be considered and appointed without the Submission and approval of the Foreign Minister?
(4) A Diplomatic Note requiring the signature of the Minister be initiated by a Senior Foreign Affairs Officer on 14 February 2011- without the knowledge and or approval of the Minister?
(5) A delegation be selected and approved to travel to Dubai without discussion and involvement of the Minister?”
Condor described the situation as a “travesty”, adding that it “goes to the heart of the increasing difficulties surrounding the operations of Cabinet and Good Governance”.
And he promised that “there will be no letting up on this matter until the public gets the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.
