Last Updated on February 7, 2020, 11:41 PM AST by Anthony Morris
While a supporter of Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris remains employed in the Ministry of National Security even after he was arrested, charged and convicted, three public officers who are know supporters of the opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), remain on suspension with half pay while their cases have been adjourned several times over the past 18 to 24 months.
Dr Harris is Minister of National Security, Minister of Finance and the Minister responsible for the Human Resource Management Department in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Four well-known public servants – Customs Officer, Larry Vaughan; Customs Officer, Leon Natta-Nelson; former Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George and police officer Lennox Hodge were arrested and charged in separate matters with alleged offences between 2017 and 2018. All four were immediately suspended from duty and place on half pay by the Human Resource Management Department in the Office of Prime Minister Harris.
Well-known Team Unity supporter Urban “Massive” Penny, employed in the Ministry of National Security, was arrested on November 27, 2017 and charged with insulting, threatening language and assault against a Senior Police Officer.
On January 19, 2020′ Penny appeared before the Magistrate Court and was found guilty on all three charges.
He was placed on a twelve month bond to keep the peace and be of good behavior in the sum of $1500. He was also ordered to pay EC$300 for each of the three charges.
However, when Penny was arrested he was never suspended from duty and placed on half pay like Natta-Nelson, Vaughan, George and Hodge.
Since Penny’s conviction, he has not been dismissed from the public service and continues to perform his duties at the Ministry of National Security.
While Penny received his double salary payments over the years when it was paid, Natta-Nelson, Hodge, George and Vaughan were denied theirs on the instructions of the Cabinet Secretariat which also falls under the Office of Prime Minister Harris.
George was arrested by police on December 15, 2017 on the allegation that he failed to declare the final results in two constituencies in the February 16, 2015 general elections.
Vaughan was arrested in his office by police officers on August 14, 2018 for allegedly failing to leave after a letter was delivered to him from the Human Resource Management Department in the Office of Prime Minister Harris.
Natta-Nelson was arrested on October 10, 2018 on a warrant issued by Magistrate Donna Harris, the sister of Prime Minister Harris on the allegation that he failed to renew his firearm license in January 2018. Natta-Nelson is the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party candidate who will challenge Prime Minister Harris for the St Christopher 7 seat in the National Assembly in the soon to be called general elections.
Customs fall under the Ministry of Finance of which Dr Harris is the minister.
Hodge, who was arrested on September 20, 2018 for driving without a valid driver’s licence, had his case was dismissed on November 19, 2019 after the prosecution failed to provide the necessary evidence.
Natta-Nelson, George and Vaughan have had their cases adjourned on several occassions and are still getting half pay each month.
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.
