Seven of the 29 tapes with conversations of United Kingdom property tycoon Peter Virdee recorded by German police in a sting operation are specific to conversations the businessman had with St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
This disclosure was made Tuesday night by Leader of the Opposition, t he Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas during his weekly radio call-in programme “Ask the Leader.”
“I have been officially informed that the number of tapes and the number of transcripts that are available are 29 different tapes made by the German Police and which were handed over to the United Kingdom National Crime Agency. We understand that at least seven of these 29 tapes are specific to conversations involving the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Timothy Harris,” Dr. Douglas disclosed.
“The tapes could provide further embarrassment to the good name of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas on Tuesday night during his weekly radio call-in programme “Ask the Leader.”
Dr. Douglas also called for the full legal opinion given to Prime Minister Harris on the British High Court judgement by Dr. Henry Browne, QC, to be made public.
“Can he please make the full legal opinion paid for by the taxpayers of this country public?” asked Dr. Douglas.
Dr. Douglas again called on Prime Minister Harris to resign saying “his continuing to hold the position of prime minster erodes the respectability of the office not only locally, but also regionally and internationally.”
“His continuing to hold office threatens the respectability of the Office of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. We believe that as a developing sovereign nation St. Kitts and Nevis cannot sustain a sullied economic reputation and diplomatic fallout from a scandal of this magnitude surrounding the head of our small nation,” said the former prime minister.
Dr. Douglas also repeated the questions which he said Prime Minister Harris must provide answers:
1. Did Harris get a 2000 pound watch from billionaire investor Peter Virdee?
2. If so, what was that gift for? What was the basis of that expensive gift given to him?
3. Did Harris get an expensive pair of shoes from billionaire investor Peter Virdee?
4. If so, what was that gift for? What was the basis of that expensive gift of shoes given to Dr. Harris?
5. Why does the Prime Minister seem preoccupied about expensive watches and expensive shoes from a billionaire business tycoon in London? What is behind all of that?
6. What was Prime Minister Harris allegedly agreeing to when according to Peter Virdee’s transcripts he said ‘Look, I am in favour of this, I will send my minister down.’ Which minister of government was the prime minister referring to? We now understand that it was not the minister of energy but the attornet heneral and minister of justice and legal affairs. Can the Attorney General please clear his name if he was the one sent down to Mr. Virdee?
7. Are these dealings related to any renewable energy project earmarked in St. Kitts?
8. Which minister was he referring to when he allegedly said he would send his minister down?
9. Does any deal that the Prime Minister have with anyone, anywhere have anything to do with the delay of any project which was already on stream that is now on the back-burner?
“Harris much resign and must come clean with the people of our great Federation,” said Dr. Douglas.