A prominent attorney in St. Kitts and Nevis has charged that the former Douglas Administration set up and operated the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) in breach of section 69 of the St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution.
Charles Wilkin, Q.C., speaking at the 2015 National Consultation on the Economy at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on October 22 under the theme “Changing Lives—A Fresh Start Towards Sustainable Development, Growth and Prosperity” said that he hopes that the ruling Government of National Unity will abide by the Constitution with respect to the SIDF. “I hope that the decisions that the Government makes as to its future (the SIDF) bear in mind that it was operated in breach of section 69 of the Constitution,” Q.C. Wilkin said.
Freedom Fm spoke to the Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas who indicated that although he had not heard the comments made by Lawyer Charles Wilkin, insisted that he had not breached the constitution.
Dr Douglas maintained that he had operated the SIDF in a transparent and legal manner and did nothing to usurp the constitution.
When asked if his government had used money put into the SIDF under the CBI program as a slush fund and had mismanaged the SIDF funds and had not published the accounts as charged by the Team Unity Government, Dr Douglas categorically denied any wrong doing but demonstrated that he had operated within the framework and guidelines of the SIDF and CBI.
He said the government had no direct control of the SIDF which was administered by a National Bank Board of Governors, appointed by the Trust Company of the Bank.
Douglas said the SIDF administered a strict legal advice at no time did they support any view of putting it into any administrative fund.
Douglas reminded that the SIDF program have impacted positively on the infrastructure and developmental programs of St. Kitts & Nevis including OTI, Christophe Harbour & Kittitian Hill.