Justice System in St Kitts-Nevis under threat: Douglas

Leader of the Opposition and National Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Tuesday the parliamentary opposition always held the view that the appointment of Donna Harris, the sister of Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris to the magistracy without advertisement "was a naked demonstration of nepotism and corruption."

His statement comes in the wake of Monday's decision of Director of Public Prosecution, Valston Graham to pull his prosecutorial officers and orderlies from the court room of Magistrate Donna Harris after she threw out a Crown Counsel.

In a statement broadcast on his weekly radio programme "Ask the Leader," the former prime minister said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the Parliamentary Opposition "join with the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, civil society organisations including the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association, the Director of Public Prosecution and his office staff "in condemning the unbelievable behaviour and conduct of Magistrate Donna Harris against the Crown Counsel in the Office the Director of Public Prosecution and other legal practitioners in the court."

"That is why this display of arrogance is not only undermining the justice system, but is a clear demonstration that she is accountable to no one and does as she pleases because she is simply the sister of the prime minister," Dr. Douglas said.

Dr. Douglas pointed to the role of Magistrate Donna Harris when she signed the warrant of the arrest of Leon Natta-Nelson who is expected to challenge her brother and prime minister Dr. Timothy Harris in the next general election as the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party candidate "for a minor infraction as yet another case of arrogance and abuse of power given to her by Dr. Harris."

"There is obviously a clear indication that the justice system in St. Kitts and Nevis is under threat by this magistrate."