BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LEADER of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament the Hon. Mark A G Brantley has demanded that the government take immediate and specific action regarding the Iranian/SKN diplomatic issue including resignations and disclosure of certain pieces of information.
In an address to the nation last evening (Nov. 27), Brantley made extensive reference to the presentation made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, at Tuesday’s sitting of the Federal Parliament (which can be viewed here http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/82081) where he explained why an Iranian, Alizeria Moghadam, entered Canada bearing a St. Kitts-Nevis-issued diplomatic passport.
According to Nisbett’s explanation, Moghadam was appointed as “a Special Envoy to Azerbaijan and Turkey with the mandate to explore areas of interest to the Federation”. He said his appointment was approved “following successful completion of all the necessary due diligence, citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis through the Investment Programme”.
Brantley said Nisbett’s explanation in the Federal Parliament did nothing but “created more questions than answers”, adding that it “conceals far more than it revealed”.
Among the issues which he said the Foreign Affairs Minister failed to address are: the $1M Moghadam is alleged to have paid for the passport, why an Iranian was selected as a special envoy to Turkey and Azerbaijan, the real reason for the suspension of the Citizenship by Investment Programme to nationals of Afghanistan and Iran, and that the visa-free access to Canada which Kittitians and Nevisians now enjoy has been jeopardised.
“Minister Nisbett failed and or refused to speak to the issue of the alleged US1 000 000 paid for the diplomatic passport. I can confirm that under the applicable laws of St. Kitts and Nevis and under international norms, diplomatic passports are not for sale. The question then of who received this alleged US$1 000 000 in exchange for bestowing diplomatic status upon this Iranian is a matter of heated speculation which demands a sensible response.
“Minister Nisbett failed and or refused to advise the citizenry of this country why this Iranian national, who Minister states was an Envoy to Azerbaijan and Turkey, would enter Canada and indicate to Canadian authorities that he had meetings with the Canadian Prime Minister for and on behalf of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. What business did this Iranian national have in Canada and on whose behalf?
“Minister Nisbett, also in his Parliamentary Address, declared that the government is unaware of “any efforts by the Government of Canada - or for that matter other countries - to effect changes to the visa-free status waiver currently enjoyed by nationals and citizens of the Federation.”
Brantley however declared that he saw documents which indicate that the Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs Minister and other Cabinet members were aware of the breach.
“I have seen documents dated 11th July 2013 which satisfy me that Minister Nisbett and Prime Minister Douglas and the entire Cabinet well knew of the serious breach of international law and comity. I am equally satisfied that they sought to mislead the Kittitian and Nevisian public by their assertion that the decision to prevent Iranians and Afghans from applying for St. Kitts Nevis citizenship through investment was a routine reorganization of the citizenship by investment programme. I believe based on what I have seen that our visa free travel to Canada enjoyed by our citizens has been seriously jeopardised by this international scandal.
“Indeed Minister Nisbett, in his own words in documents seen by me, urged his Cabinet colleagues to act, citing ‘the sensitivity of this matter and particularly the possible implications for the continuation of the visa free status which the Federation enjoys with Canada’.”
With the weight of this “scandal” still dangling overhead, Opposition Leader Brantley – in addition to calling for a full scale investigation of this matter – made the following demands on the government:
1. That it provides a fulsome and truthful statement addressing this international scandal;
2. That it releases information about whether or not the alleged US$1 000 000 was paid and to whom;
3. To immediately remove the diplomatic status of Moghadam;
4. Those involved in this scandal must resign of their government positions immediately; and
5. A list of all the non-nationals who are diplomats for St. Christopher and Nevis be disclosed along with the grounds for the granting of their diplomatic status.
“Our young nation finds itself now at a crossroad. We either stand up now for what is right and the pride and dignity of our people or we run the risk of continuing down the slippery slope to oblivion. The scant regard being shown for the reputation and international standing of our country by our Prime Minister and his Cabinet, and the over exuberance to make millions at all cost, have brought our beloved nation to its knees. This cannot and must not be allowed to continue,” Brantley said.
