Deli Caines
Press Secretary of the NRP
Charlestown, Nevis(Wednesday, May 17, 2017) – Opposition member of the Nevis Island Assembly, Hon. Robelto Hector of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) is questioning why the Foreign Affairs Minister of St .Kitts- Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley has not made any public statements on the ongoing matter of a Chinese national, who is also a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to recent reports on Caribbean news program Carib Update, China has made a formal request to St. Kitts and Nevis to handover Chinese fugitive Mr. Ren Biao. Mr. Biao is presently on Interpol’s wanted list for allegedly stealing US$100 million from a Chinese state company.
The most compelling part of the story is that Chinese diplomatic sources have reported that in an intercepted communication on April 15, Ren Biao was seeking USD$190,000 from his family to continue to pay for security protection by Kittitian authorities.
Hon. Hector is asking for Minister, Hon. Mark Brantley to report to the people of the Federation on the Chinese matter in his capacity as Foreign Affairs Minister, and to also inform the people, to whom was the USD$190,000 paid.
On a recent edition of “On Track” on Choice Radio Hon. Hector said,“Our Foreign Affairs minister is not reporting to the people and I want your opinion (audience), as when our Foreign Affairs minister is not making any comments on the issue of a Chinese citizen (who is on the Interpol list) it raises the question about protecting criminals? Have instructions been given to the police not to touch Mr. Biao from the offices of the Attorney General or Foreign Affairs?”
The silence by the Foreign Affairs Minister has been a major issue on Social media as many persons have stated that Mr. Brantley has been quiet on the issue and many are wondering why the very outspoken minister who had so much to say in Opposition is now not saying a word on this important world issue.
Recently, an American couple who obtained a St. Kitts- Nevis passport through the Citizen By Investment (CBI) program had their passport’s revoked by the Dr. Timothy Harris led Administration, once the American authorities sent a notice to the government of St. Kitts- Nevis about the Kaplan’s (an American couple) who were being charged with criminal activity by the United States government.
Hector stated that during the Kaplan’s issue, Brantley boasted and said, “The UNITY government is a very pro active government!”
Many persons are now asking, “What has happened to this Chinese issue? Why isn’t the government being proactive on this very important international matter?
The people heard Hon. Mark Brantley in Opposition talking on every issue imaginable but it is funny that we can’t hear from him now!” concluded Hector.
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