Claims he did not lie about the meeting
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DEPUTY Political Leader of the National Integrity Party (NIP) Roy Fleming has refuted Dr. Henry Browne’s statement and allegations in which he was accused of being a rumour monger and deemed a liar.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Fleming said he had mistakenly stated to a reporter of this media house that the meeting took place at the Factory Social Centre. But after reminiscing on the event that occurred some nine years ago, he recollected that it was held at the Golden Torch Restaurant; a venue that was in proximity of the Factory Social Centre.
“Indeed I had made a mistake in saying that the meeting was held at the Factory Social Centre. Instead, it was held at the Golden Torch Restaurant, which was very close to the Factory.”
Recounting the events that occurred on that day, Fleming said: “After attending a Church Service in Cayon the Sunday after Nomination Day in 2004, we, the People’s Action Movement candidates, were told to proceed to the Factory Social Centre. When we got there, we were directed to the Golden Torch Restaurant.
“At the Restaurant, we met Dr. Henry Browne, the Leader of the United National Empowerment Party, and a number of Executives of that political party.”
The former PAM’s candidate for St. Christopher Two said he was unaware of what the meeting was about but he was subsequently informed of “the plan”.
“We had no clue or inclination as to what this meeting was about and what to expect. We subsequently found out that Lindsay Grant had made an arrangement with Dr. Browne to surrender the seats in Constituencies One, Two and Three. I was asked to step down as the Central Basseterre candidate and allow Dr. Browne to replace me. Likewise, Glenroy Blanchette was also asked to step down and allow Dr. Thelma Phillip Browne to contest the seat in Constituency One. Both Blanchette and I and other candidates totally rejected this hypocritical move, as we were fully aware that the vast majority of the PAM supporters in their constituencies would not favour such an arrangement.”
He stated that they later understood that “this sell-out arrangement would have seen Dr. Browne as the new Prime Minister”.
Dr. Browne, in an interview with WINN FM, however stated that Fleming had lied about the meeting.
“Well I can say, categorically, no such meeting occurred! Mr. Fleming…something is wrong with his thought process. No such meeting occurred. Mr. Fleming is seeking to spread a rumour but this rumour – like all the others he has so far spread – is definitely wicked and untrue. It is not true.”
According to Dr. Browne's account of the issue, he was told by his Public Relations Officer Walford Arthurton that then leader of the PAM Lindsay Grant requested an urgent meeting with him to discuss matters of public interest. He said that meeting was held on Church Street in Grant’s law offices.
He said present at the meeting were Grant and the then Chairman of the PAM, Chesley Hamilton. And the proposition which he said Grant made was to the effect that the votes against the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) should not be split and, as such, Dr. Browne should suspend the party and allow the PAM to contest the election against it.
Although Dr. Browne indicated that the proposition did not sit well with him, he said it “was a wise proposition for him [Grant] to advance and as Leader of his party to contemplate”.
Commenting further on the issue, Dr. Browne expressed, “Mr. Fleming’s design for political leadership in this country, apart from the fact that he has lied, he has to start off by saying to the public what private discussions were about in a shadow cabinet setting? How does that comport with good leadership and maturity in the process of thinking that you are trying to lead a country? It is mind boggling but it’s a lie, Mr. Fleming lied!”
Responding to Dr. Browne’s statement on where and with whom the meeting was held, Fleming claimed that he knew nothing of “Dr. Browne’s meeting with Grant and Hamilton in Church Street. I was unaware of that meeting as were many others in the party. That is a different meeting to the one I know transpired at the Golden Torch Restaurant on that Sunday”.
Lincoln Warner, one of the founding members of the UNEP, who was also the party’s Coordinator, endorsed Fleming’s statement, claiming that at the time of the issue he was in charge of the Golden Torch Restaurant and was also present at the Sunday meeting.
“I was present at the meeting on that Sunday, which was held at the Golden Torch Restaurant, and Dr. Henry Browne and Executives of UNEP were all there. At the meeting, we were asked by the People’s Action Movement to field candidates in Constituencies One, Two and Seven. Grant gave his consent for us to field candidates in those constituencies but the choice for One and Two had to be made by Blanchette and Fleming, who both refused to do so.”
Fleming maintains that he did not lie about the meeting that took place at the Golden Torch Restaurant and is questioning the sincerity of the Leader of the PAM, the Hon. Shawn Richards.
“Was the PAM Leader lying when he said on a local radio station that he was never consulted about PAM undertaking any such decision or any agreement with UNEP?
“Richards clearly stated that in 2004 he was not only a candidate but also one of the two Deputy Political Leaders of the party. Therefore, as a Deputy Leader, he ought to have known what plans the Leader had in taking the party forward. Also, his sincerity needs to be questioned since Dr. Browne and Walford Arthurton had confirmed that there was a meeting and an agreement between the two political parties.”
The National Integrity Party’s Deputy Leader is of the view that “more than one person is lying” and he is not between or among them.
