BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE proposed sale of The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer, which over the past three weeks was touted as a rumour, is now a reality.
This announcement was made by the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the weekly newspaper, Kenneth Williams, who on Saturday (Mar. 5) called in to Winn FM’s ‘Inside the News’ programme to clear the air on a story broadcast by that radio station.
Williams contended that the story, headlined ‘Douglas Negotiating To Purchase The Observer Newspaper’, is misleading and has given listeners to the newscast and readers of the printed version the impression that The Observer was already sold to former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.
This resulted in a heated debate between the author of the story and Williams, which saw the intervention of the programme’s moderator who ensured that it ended amicably but not before the publisher offered an explanation on the proposed sale.
Williams explained that The Observer is indeed up for sale and Dr. Douglas had shown interest in purchasing it, but he was not the only one.
“I am willing to sell the newspaper to the person who offers me the highest bid. I want to put that out there and make it clear. Now, the best offer I have had did not come from Prime Minister Douglas, it came from somebody else.”
Williams pointed out that he had written an article a few weeks ago, within which he had indicated the nature of the discussion he had with Dr. Douglas on the sale of The Observer.
He explained that Hastings Daniel had informed him that the Opposition Leader was very concerned of how the relationship between the two of them had deteriorated, and in an effort to appease the situation “Mr. Daniel suggested that I call Dr. Douglas...and I called him”.
“In the process of the conversation he asked me how was business. I said to him I am kind of tired of it and I would like to either get new investment or sell it. Dr. Douglas said to me he has investors. I said, well, if there is an interest talk to Hastings.
“When I got off the phone I spoke to Hastings and Hastings reported to me, ‘Yes Dr. Douglas conducted and toured The Observer in Nevis.’ And I believe Dr. Douglas and Hastings had had some discussions. But in terms of whether or not there has been an offer and an acceptance, or whether or not there is a sale in the process, that is not so.”
Williams however categorically stated that if "Dr. Douglas comes with a cheque and the cheque is right, I will sign the dotted lines, tell him thanks and go about my business".
