BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FORMER Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Sam Condor has debunked the Federation’s Foreign Affairs Minister’s statement which suggests he may have had knowledge of the Iranian diplomatic passport and related issue.
Recently, SKNVibes spoke with current Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Patrice Nisbett about the $1M allegedly paid by Alizeria Moghadam to procure a St. Kitts-Nevis diplomatic passport.
Nisbett had addressed the diplomatic passport issue during a Parliamentary address and also during a recent interview with SKNVibes, in which he said he could not speak to the $1M issue because it is “an allegation”. He advised that Condor, who was the Foreign Affairs Minister when the diplomatic passport was issued to Moghadam, be contacted and questioned.
Speaking with SKNVibes this morning (Dec. 03), Condor said he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at that point but explained that despite his appointment, he was never in any position to sign off on diplomatic passports.
“I am disappointed in Patrice Nisbett. He came all the way from Nevis and I thought he was coming to add to the governance as a lawyer. He has joined a corrupt bunch and he is just as corrupt as them now to be asking foolish questions.
“He is parroting the words of Erasmus Williams. I thought better of him. He knows that I was never in any position to have anything to do with any passport for Moghadam or anything of the sort. He knows, he is in the Cabinet, he knows how it works and I’m really disappointed in him…”
Before breaking ranks with the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party-led government, Condor complained – on a number of occasions – about interference in the functions and operation of his Ministry by the Prime Minister.
He indicated that decisions made by the Prime Minister involved his (Condor’s) Permanent Secretary and were not brought to his attention until plans had been set in motion.
Condor, who is the Deputy Leader of the People’s Labour Party, also indicated to this publication that the appointment of special envoys takes place in or at the behest of the Prime Minister’s Office.
“Special envoys originate out of the Prime Minister’s Office. That is confirmed, that is established; nothing to do with any Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
