Rumor of more than 100 St. Kitts and Nevis passports allegedly being intercepted in St. Maarten en route to the Dominican Republic has sparked public concern and prompted calls for the government to provide clarification on the issue.
In addition to individual posts on social media platforms, political and social activist Dwyer Astaphan raised the issue Tuesday evening on his talk The Operating Room
“We are told that 105 St. Kitts and Nevis passports were prepared, filled out with names, pictures etcetera, and sent to the Dominican Republic for 105 people who had never come to St. Kitts and Nevis before. If it is untrue, then a response from the government saying ‘that is absolutely untrue’- thank you and we’ll be happy to hear.
“We are told that the flight these people were on passed through St. Maarten where the passengers disembarked. The St. Maarten officials we are told, found these people with the 105 brand new St. Kitts and Nevis passports, most or all of them unable to speak a word of English. We are told that the St. Maarten authorities took possession of the passports and returned them to the government in St. Kitts.
“It’s very troubling. If this is true I have some questions. Who would have prepared these passports? Where did they get the passports from? Who would have authorized it? Who would have sent them to the Dominican Republic and to whom? Who would have been the contact for St. Kitts and in the Dominican Republic? How much money had to be paid for these passport transaction and to whom? What can the Immigration Department and Ministry of National Security and the Prime Minister tell us to comfort us in the knowledge and confidence that this is not true; or if it is true, that remedial and investigative steps will be undertaken without delay.”
Freedom FM attempted to reach Osmond Petty, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security for comment but was unsuccessful. Similarly Minister of National Security, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris could not be reached for comment.