Natta-Nelson matter adjourned to September

Molineux resident Leon Natta-Nelson will have to wait for almost a year to answer to an allegation of possession of an illegal firearm.

Appearing in the Magistrate's Court on Monday morning, Nelson-Natta was informed that his matter was adjourned to a date in September 2019, prompting further speculation of on-going political interference in the judicial process.

The reason given for the seven-month postponement was that the prosecutor had recently travelled and was not ready or prepared for the case.

Natta-Nelson, who was charged in September 2018, is a potential candidate of the opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) to challenge Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris in St. Christopher 7 in the upcoming general expected to be called in a few months. No formal announcement by been made by the party.

In a letter dated October 10th 2018 from the Human Resource Management Department in the Office of Prime Minister Harris to Natta-Nelson said it has received "an adverse report of his involvement in political activity" thus contravening the Public Service (Conduct and Ethics of Officers) Code.

The letter alleges "that on or about the end of June 2018, you, Leon Natta-Nelson, did introduce yourself to a resident of Christ Church Village, Christ Church, St. Kitts, as a candidate of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party running against the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris for the next general election."

The Office of Prime Minister Harris also alleges that Mr. Natta-Nelson "on or about the end of June 2018 did seek to solicit and or canvass support for your political campaign from a resident of Christ Church Village, Christ Church, St. Kitts."

"This seems to be a trend of the Timothy Harris-led government, that continues to abuse the court as a means to victimize and to create a cloud of fear over the heads of those who do not support the tripartite government. The government continues to drag innocent citizens into the court, only to be ill-prepared and lacking any coherent set of information or facts to support their case," Sknwebnews reported Monday.

"The political targeting of Natta-Nelson came about as a result of his growing popularity in his community and constituency number 7, and Prime Minister Harris' increasing fear of losing the constituency," the online media house stated.

In October 2018, Magistrate Donna Harris, sister of the prime minister, Dr. Timothy Harris, signed an arrest warrant for Natta-Nelson, under the pretext of his failure to renew his licensed firearm, despite the fact that at the time of the arrest, the firearm was already licensed. He was then charged for the possession of an illegal firearm.

"This sordid political action on the part of the government was met with much anger from persons of the community, who saw this development as a clear act of victimization by Timothy Harris. Natta-Nelson became a target for Timothy Harris after he was recognized by the community as someone they would support as their next representative," Sknwebnews said.

Natta-Nelson, a senior Customs Officer and Accountant in the Customs & Excise Department, is one of several individuals who have been victimized by prime minister Harris for perceived political affiliation or closeness to officials of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.

In August last year, another Customs Officer, Larry Vaughan was arrested on the job and charged a few days after posting an open letter to prime minister Harris on social media. Police officers showed up shortly after a letter from the Human Resource Department of the Office of Prime Minister Harris, was delivered to him suspending him with immediate effect.

Vaughan without an arrest warrant was manhandled by the officers, one of whom pulled away his cell phone as he recorded the event. Vaughan was escorted off the premises and charged with four offences: Persisting in remaining on the premises of the HM Customs office after being warned to depart, Obstruction, Resisting arrest and Battery on a police officer. His case postponed on several occasions. On February 4, 2019 it was set down for hearing in May 2019.

Police constable, Lennox Hodge, a former security officer to then prime minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, was arrested on September 20, 2018, the day after on his off-day on September 19, 2018 (Independence Day) drove Dr. Douglas to and from the Ceremonial Independence Parade at Warner Park.

Hodge was arrested on a bench warrant in full police uniform, denied bail. slept in a police cell overnight and marched before a magistrate on September 21, 2018, when he was granted bail.

His matter too has been adjourned on several occasions. On December 12, 2018, one of his attorneys who was leaving the High Court heard Hodge's name call to appear in the Magistrate Court and rushed inside to stop the attempt to try the case behind her client's back. Hodge and his attorneys were not informed of that date.

During an appearance on November 29, 2018, the matter was set down for March 14, 2019. But in January 2019, the case was called and again Hodge and his attorneys were never told.

Hodge confirmed on Tuesday night, the matter will be heard on March 14, 2019.

Natta-Nelson, Vaughan and Hodge remain on suspension at half pay. All three serve in ministries under the control of Dr. Harris in his capacity as prime minister, minister of finance and national security.