Douglas: ‘St Kitts and Nevis PM must take action over Chinese claims – like I would’

EXCLUSIVE

The government of St Kitts and Nevis must immediately take action and stop posturing after allegations emerged that it is harbouring a Chinese fugitive, the federation’s former prime minister has told WIC News.

And Denzil Douglas, who led the country from 1995 to 2015 and is now leader of the opposition, said if he was in power today the situation would be resolved.

Yesterday details emerged in the Caribbean media that Chinese diplomatic officials believe the government of St Kitts and Nevis is protecting a Chinese national who is on Interpol’s wanted persons list.

The man at the centre of the accusations became a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis as part of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme while Douglas was prime minister.

The Saint Kitts-Nevis Labour Party leader insists that no issues arose when his government granted the passport, and that instead action is needed by Prime Minister Timothy Harris’ Team Unity coalition government.

“I think we need to put this into proper perspective. The CBI programme has built within it the ability of any government to revoke citizenship who has been proven to have used corruption to obtain their investment,” he said.

“When this man was granted economic citizenship back in 2013, all of the due diligence checks were above board. There was no record of any criminal activity of any kind.

“It would appear after he became a citizen and left China that prompted the Chinese authorities to investigate him. That is when it seems they discovered he embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars. This discovery and investigation was only after the government [in St Kitts and Nevis] had changed.

“I can tell you when I was prime minister that if there was anyone at all in the CBI system who has been charged with, or proven to have committed, any kind of corruption related to their investment funding, then that person would immediately be held by authorities if they are in the country and extradition proceedings would begin – we have done that to Chinese nationals in the past.”

In a statement, the government of the St Kitts and Nevis said: “The Chinese citizen referred to in the report by Ms Oslyn Crosby [the journalist that broke this story] was granted St Kitts and Nevis citizenship some four years ago in September 2013. 

“Accordingly, as a citizen, he is entitled by virtue of the Constitution of St Kitts and Nevis to due process as is any other citizen.”

The statement notes that there is “no extradition arrangement with China” and adds: “The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is cognisant that there is an established legal framework for dealing with the return of fugitives, and the extradition of any citizen of St Kitts and Nevis therefore must be done in accordance with the law.”

Key allegations

According to reports, a male Chinese national fled his home country in 2010. In 2013, when Denzil Douglas was in power, he was granted a St Kitts-Nevis passport as part of the CBI programme.

The identity of Chinese national has not been revealed.

‘Upsetting’

Douglas believes that the government should be doing more to look into the recent claims.

“The very least the government could do it is arrest him and work with Interpol and China. This doesn’t affect his rights as a citizen. Whatever happens it needs to be looked into – our country is part of Interpol.

“What is upsetting is the fact that everything is there to get this sorted. When new information comes to light we cane take action. Even China wasn’t aware, but now they have the information the government needs to take actions.

"I would be working with neighbouring countries, with Interpol, with China. Just getting this sorted out."

The government denies that any formal request has been made by the People’s Republic of China regarding this matter. 

It said: “Information has come to the government’s attention in relation to this matter, and the relevant agencies are carrying out investigations with a view to ascertaining whether there has been any breach of the laws of St Kitts and Nevis.  

“The Government of St Kitts and Nevis will comply with its obligations as a responsible member of the international community.”