Last Updated on January 8, 2020, 11:40 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Even six years after the Venezuela Embassy was gutted in the fire and a failed attempt to burn down the Organization of American States (OAS) Secretariat in St Kitts on January 5, 2014, not even a single person has been brought to justice, however two persons were charged in connection with the Venezuela embassy fire case.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force in a statement issuedon January 23, 2014, said that a male of Phillips’ Village and formerly of Lodge Project, had been formally arrested and charged in connection with the embassy fire case.
The Police said the Fire Department had indicated that according to the evidence which they discovered at the scene, it was suspected that it was the work of an arsonist.
The man was charged with arson and malicious damage.
On January 31, 2014, the St. Kitts-Nevis Observer reported that a female, also of Phillips’ Village, was charged with arson of the Venezuelan Embassy.
“She faces the offence of ‘unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to a certain building devoted and dedicated to a public use to wit the Venezuelan Embassy’,” said the Observer report.
The OAS Secretariat located not far away was also set on fire but received minor structural damage before Fire and Rescue extinguished the flames.
“Investigation revealed that the building was intentionally set on fire, and an abandoned vehicle, motor car P7809 was found at the scene and taken into police custody along with other items,” the Observer newspaper reported quoting Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Lyndon David.
A January 8, 2014 St. Kitts-Nevis Observer report quoted then Team Unity leader Dr. Timothy Harris as stating that he would have no confidence in any report coming from these incidents.
The two Phillips’ Village residents who were arrested, charged and bailed are yet to face trial and according to reliable reports the charges have been dropped since Dr. Harris became Prime Minister and Minister of National Security in mid February 2015. Both alleged arsonists are from the constitutency that Dr Harris represents.
The Venezuelan Embassy was reopened in July 2014 at a new location on Horsford Road with the cutting of the ribbon by then Venezuela’s Resident Ambassador, His Excellency Rómulo Camilo Henríquez González and then Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas on Horsford Road.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
