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Posted: Monday 2 December, 2013 at 1:16 PM

Dr. Harris relieved of his diplomatic passport

Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris
By: Terresa McCall, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FORMER Senior Minister of Government the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris suffered some humiliation earlier today (Dec. 2) when he was relieved of his diplomatic passport shortly before his scheduled time to leave the Federation.

     

    Dr. Harris spoke with WINN FM while at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport and explained that an immigration officer had advised him of the government’s withdrawal of his diplomatic travel document.

    “I’m just being advised by one of the immigration officers that the government has basically withdrawn, deactivated my diplomatic passport which was issued to me in 2007. 

    “I find it strange that the government, if they were to do this wicked act, would wait until I’m at the airport for me to be advised. No formal communication being sent to me giving an explanation or even asking that the passport be returned. It is this very government that had brought a Cabinet submission which allowed former Government Ministers access to these diplomatic passports, so I’m really taken aback by that.”

    Dr. Harris – who was fired from the St. Kits-Nevis Labour Party administration and has been vocal about what he described as corrupt practices of that administration - expressed that while taken aback, he was not altogether surprised by the government’s move. 

    He also indicated that the government should have – if it really needed to or had reason to revoke the passport – indicate to him formally rather than in the manner that it was. 

    “I am not surprised to the wickedness to which Dr. Douglas has now stooped. He is now on an agenda of vengeance and hate and it is bad for this country. He is sending all of the worst signals...They should have at least had the courtesy of saying to me, ‘Listen, we want to withdraw this passport from you’, and whatever the explanation or reason…”

    Only weeks ago, Dr. Harris, while speaking at a Unity Concept public meeting, broke news of a situation where an Iranian had entered Canada on a St. Kitts-Nevis-issued diplomatic passport with the intention of meeting with that country’s Prime Minister. 

    The Iranian, Alireza Moghadam, according to Dr. Harris, while being questioned by the Canadian officials declared that he paid $1 000 000 for the passport.

    Following public outcry over the issue, Foreign Affairs Minister the Hon. Patrice Nisbett made a Parliamentary presentation last week informing that Moghadam was approved for the diplomatic passport and was a special envoy to Turkey and Azerbaijan. 

    His presentation, however, failed to address the issue of the alleged $1 000 000.

    SKNVibes understands that Dr. Harris was able to leave the country, as he had his regular passport in his possession. 

    Harris noted that the situation highlights “the irregularity in the system that Moghadam can have his passport and a Member of Parliament cannot have a [diplomatic] passport”.

    Commenting on the withdrawal of Dr. Harris’ diplomatic passport, Minister Nisbett told this publication that he would have to get in contact with those individuals directly responsible for those matters, after which a statement would be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
     
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