St Kitts-Nevis opposition seeks PM's resignation amid brewing scandal

Opposition Leader, Dr Denzil Douglas

By Clive Bacchus

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) -- The government of St Kitts and Nevis had not responded on Saturday to a call by the leader of the opposition, Dr Denzil Douglas, for the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris, or other allegations leveled by Douglas in relation to a Chinese economic citizen resident in the federation who is wanted in China on financial charges.

In a statement issued on Friday, Douglas accused the prime minister of rebuffing calls for cooperation with Interpol and China.

He said, "Despite formal requests by China, as well as Interpol, to secure the return of Mr Ren Biao from St Kitts-Nevis to face prosecution in China, the current St Kitts-Nevis government is refusing to cooperate."

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Country in the Caribbean

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a dual-island nation situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It's known for cloud-shrouded mountains and beaches. Many of its former sugar plantations are now inns or atmospheric ruins. The larger of the 2 islands, Saint Kitts, is dominated by the dormant Mount Liamuiga volcano, home to a crater lake, green vervet monkeys and rainforest crisscrossed with hiking trails.

Capital: Basseterre

Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar

Capital and largest city: Basseterre; 17°18′N 62°44′W / 17.300°N 62.733°W

Population: 55,572 (2015) World Bank

Official language: English

He added that, while the government has said there was no formal request from China, he was reliably informed that there had indeed been several requests to the government from a Caribbean head of state whose country has diplomatic relations with China. 

Harris has not heeded the urgings of his fellow Caribbean heads of government to cooperate with the government of China and with Interpol, Douglas said. 

He accused the prime minister of exposing the country to severe and multi-faceted consequences and of stoutly refusing to provide a full account of the matter or to revoke Biao’s passport and do all that is necessary to stem this international scandal.

He concluded, "I therefore on behalf of the opposition call upon the prime minister to tender his resignation and to allow our great country to move beyond the quagmire in which he has placed it." 

The administration in a statement on Wednesday dismissed charges that it is protecting the Chinese national Ren Biao and denied that China has made a formal request to the government.

The administration though admitted that it had received information on the matter.

The government's position is that the fugitive is entitled by the constitution to due process as is any other citizen.