St Kitts-Nevis: Opposition accuse PM of voiding power of police and defence force

Leader of the opposition in St Kitts and Nevis has accused Prime Minister Timothy Harris of politicising the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force.

Former Prime Minister Denzil Douglas said that based on what Dr. Harris said in the National Assembly a few weeks ago on the appointment of retired Major General Stewart Saunders – formerly of the Jamaica Defence Force – Harris has abrogated the responsibilities of the police commissioner and the defence force commander through a national security adviser.

“What Timothy Harris said to us in parliament and to the nation is that the Major General will advise Harris and then on advising Harris, Harris will then direct the commissioner of police and the commander of the Defence Force,” Douglas said on Freedom 106.5 FM’s Issues programme.

“In other words, Harris has abrogated the responsibilities of the commissioner and the commander through a national security advisor. That is what we have been saying all along. The police have been politicised.”

Douglas accused Harris of not trusting the judgement of the Police High Command with the appointment of Saunders.

He also said the appointment has “undermined the leadership of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force.”

Responding to a caller, Douglas reaffirmed his confidence in the commissioner of police, the Police High Command and the security forces generally.

“But I am confident in my mind that Dr Harris wants COP [Ian Queeley] to fail, because he has a sinister plan that after the probationary two year period is up he is going to fire Queeley. That is what he is leading to,” Douglas said.

“That is why he has brought in the adviser. That is why he is going to say at the end of the probationary period that the adviser [Saunders] advised him that Queeley has failed. I am certain in my mind, that if Harris did not want Queeley to fail, he would not have done all these things that we know he has done since Queeley has been there.”