Harris must RESIGN, say St Kitts and Nevis opposition

The leader of the opposition in St Kitts and Nevis has called for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Timothy Harris amid an explosive row over bribery allegations.

Denzil Douglas, who heads the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, made the demand after secretly taped telephone calls emerged in a judgment in the UK High Court on Friday.

The case relates to property tycoon Peter Singh Virdee, who is accused of bribing high-ranking Caribbean officials.

“Our country, under the present regime headed by Dr Timothy Harris, has continued to attract one international scandal after another,” said the former prime minister.

“This time the scandal appears to concern the prime minister directly. As a small Caribbean nation, we are fast losing our reputation, and the lifeblood of this country is being sucked from it as corruption runs amok and there seems to be a return of the image of Devil's Island.”

Harris and his government have denied any wrongdoing, releasing a statement through the information service.

But speaking on Sunday, Douglas said: “These conversation began about exactly 12 months after Harris became prime minister of our country, St. Kitts and Nevis.

“Dr. Timothy Harris is mentioned in the transcripts by office and name."

The scandal has already claimed one major scalp, with Antigua MP Asot Michael resigning his ministerial position amid the unfolding situation.