By: Erasmus Williams
863/2019
Basseterre, St Kitts, December 8, 2019 – Former Prime Minister Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas reiterated Sunday that the Daily Mail story “is totally false, malicious and libelous”and “was never detained or arrested in London.”
“The One-Term Government of Dr Tim Harris seems to have found a Reporter in the Daily Mail to push their false and libelous story to distract from our call that Minister of Tourism Lindsay Grant and Culture Ambassador Jonel Powell must resign now,” said Dr Douglas.
“Let it be known that I again emphasise that I was never detained or arrested at London Gatwick Airport on 16th November or at any other time. I have committed no crime and I’m under no investigation,” said Dr Douglas.
“The Article in question is receiving the attention of my lawyers who will advise me accordingly,” said Dr Douglas, the National Political Leader of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP).
Dr Douglas’ call for the resignation of Grant and Powell follows a default judgment in the High Court in October for breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and failure to account or misappropriation of US$460,000 (EC$1.2 million) belonging to a client.
A client has claimed that US$460,000 was transferred to the bank accounts of Grant and Powell at the St Kitts branch of First Caribbean International Bank in May 2013, for the purchase of a condominium unit under the Citizenship By Investment Programme and to secure title for the property.
After hearings before a Master at various dates in 2018, the St Kitts High Court in February 2019, determined the terms of the default judgment and ordered Grant and Powell to pay damages.
On October 28, 2019, Justice Ventose refused to set aside the default judgment and ordered that Tanzil, Grant and Powell make submissions on the assessment of damages for a December 12, 2019 hearing.
