PLP Chairman highlights tension among Cabinet ministers in St. Kitts-Nevis, gives advice for Health Minister Hamilton

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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS– Chairman of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP), Mr. Douglas Wattley is questioning the competence of Junior Minister of Health, Sen. the Hon. Wendy Phipps.

Mr. Wattley also calls on Health Minister, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton to stand up or resign and accused Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris of presiding over the demise of the ministries of National Security and the civil service under his portfolio.

Mr. Wattley’s latest public salvo comes a day after the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ione Liburd-Willett was told on Monday 7^thNovember to take her accumulated 59 vacation days. Although her vacation ends on December 31^st 2016, Mrs. Willett has been instructed by letter to remain on leave until January 31^st 2017.

There are unconfirmed reports that Mrs. Willett was sent home because she carried out the written instructions of Minister of Health Eugene Hamilton much to the annoyance of Junior Minister Wendy Phipps and Attorney General, Hon. Vincent “Juicey” Byron.

“Could somebody tell me why, in goodness sakes, is Wendy Phipps still in the Ministry of Health? Why is her incompetence still tolerated. She is out of her depth. This is not the area of her competence. She is wreaking havoc in the Ministry of Health and it is about to implode,” said Wattley in a FaceBook posting on Tuesday.

Mr. Wattley further asked: “Mr. Prime Minister (Dr. Timothy Harris), why are you so eager to see the demise of our most important institutions – National Security, the Ministry of the Civil Service and now the Ministry of Health?”

Wattley, a constituent of Cayon in which Mr. Hamilton lives, wants Mr. Hamilton to end the disrespect by Prime Minister Harris and Senator Phipps.

“When are you going to straighten your spine? Mr. Minister, demand that this woman exit your ministry or incur the disdain of a disappointed electorate. You don’t have to take this nonsense – not from Wendy – not from the Attorney General and not from the Prime Minister. Nobody voted for her. We voted for you. Yet she has more power than you. She consistently disrespects you. Why allow this? Mr. Hamilton – here is my advice – get a backbone – stand up or give up and get out! Simple!” said Mr. Wattley, who in other public postings has accused Prime Minister Harris of being “evil and wicked.” 

Mrs. Willet, who was recently transferred from the Minister of Education to the Ministry of Health, was asked to deliver to Chief Medical Officer Dr Hazel Laws “all keys and any other assets of the Ministry in your possession.” 

She replaced Mr. Andrew Skerritt, who was removed from the post of Permanent Secretary of Health and transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister, days after Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Martin was sent on pre-retirement leave.

The transfer of Skerritt and retirement of Martin is linked to the illegal and controversial stem cell project at the JNF General Hospital.

The PLP, led by Prime Minister Harris has one seat in the three party governing coalition. The Peoples Action Movement of Hon Shawn Richards has four seats and the Concerned Citizens two seats in the 11-member National Assembly.

Wattley, chairman of the PLP of which Prime Minister Harris is the Political Leader has been publicly raising issues of transparency, accountability and good governance in the 20-month old PLP/CCM/PAM administration.

He recently expressed his opposition to what he says is a Timothy Harris dictatorship in the twin-island Federation.

“I will not help to raise a dictator in this country. Neither would I tolerate a corrupt. I am certainly not interested in creating a new planter class. Every mistake can be remedied,” Wattley wrote on his FaceBook Page.

Wattley has also resigned as Chairman of the state-owned ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Board of Directors. Other resignations since the PLP/CCM/PAM administration took office on February 16^th2015 included Mr. Clecton Philip as Press Secretary to Prime Minister Harris and Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Franklin Brand.

Persons appointed to Board by the new administration have also resigned from the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) and the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.