The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) caretaker for St. Christopher 8, Dr. Terrance Drew continues to highlight the blatant nepotism in the three-year-old Timothy Harris-led Team Unity coalition.
Dr. Drew reiterated those concerns following recent republic statements by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, that persons he has appointed to positions in the civil service and government-owned corporations are based on political allegiance and that such persons are expected to write glowing articles publicly praising him and his government.
“It is a damming statement. It means persons are getting positions that are not based on qualifications or competence. It confirms also that victimisation is a policy of this Team Unity Government,” said Dr. Drew during Wednesday’s Issues programme on Freedom 106.5 FM.
“It means if someone is already in the service and ought to be promoted, that person will not be given the position and also if a person applies for a position and he or she is not perceived to be a supporter of Harris and his coalition, he or she will never get the job although more qualified and competent,” said Drew, adding: “persons can also be kicked out of the civil service as has happened to over 200 persons victimised since the Harris led government assumed office in mid-February 2015.”
Dr. Drew again questioned the silence of civil society on the blatant atrocities by the Timothy Harris-led administration.
“Where is civil society? What is the position of civil society on this? We want to hear them. Where are those who believe in good governance and democracy?” asked Dr. Drew.
In alluding to the stark nepotism practiced by Prime Minister Harris, the SKNLP caretaker pointed to Dr. Harris’ sisters controlling the judiciary as Registrar/Additional Magistrate; Magistrate; Payroll Master in the Government’s Human Resource Department which falls under the portfolio of Dr. Harris in his capacity as Minister of Finance; a brother promoted as CEO of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis and at the same time, a director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board which lends money to the Bank; a brother-in-law promoted and paid thousands of dollars in backpay for a post he never performed in that capacity before; a nephew who sits as chairman of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank and involved in another company which rakes in millions of dollars; another nephew who is paid EC$5,000 monthly as a butler in Harris’ private residence; other family members appointed to Boards and the award of multi-million contracts to newly-established Harris Group of Companies involved in car rentals, rentals of tents, tables and chairs; building and road contractors, heavy equipment operations, trucking and landscaping.