BASSETERRE – Police have denied reports that they had planned to arrest Opposition Leader Dr Denzil Douglas when he returned to the twin island Federation last weekend.
“The High Command would like to confirm that there is no warrant out for the arrest of the Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas. Therefore, this information that is being circulated in the public domain is inaccurate,” the police said in a statement.
Deputy Leader for the main opposition St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Marcella Liburd said: “We have word from our comrade leader Dr Denzil Douglas that he was reliably informed that he would be arrested on his arrival at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (RLB) . . .
“We are taking this very seriously because we realise that with elections coming on that there have been more and more serious attempts to try and see if they could try and prevent Dr Douglas from being part of these elections,” she added.
The SKNLP said that although the High Command had issued a statement denying any knowledge of the plan to arrest Douglas, scores of supporters refused to believe.
It said that police had parked vehicles along the F.T. Williams Highway and waited outside the private terminal.
“As Dr Douglas appeared from the lounge and walked through the exit of the terminal, the crowd which included several party officials and candidates, surged forward and lifted him above their shoulders in a jubilant greeting.”
The party said in a brief address to the crowd, Dr Douglas said that while he was in Dominica, he had been informed that the authorities in Basseterre would wish to interview him on his return to St Kitts “because the aircraft he departed the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on had no clearance”.
“I do not know why this government wants to harass me. I went to Dominica. They are saying that the aircraft that I went to Dominica on did not have clearance and on my return I would be questioned. I do not clear aircrafts. I am not a pilot and so when I return am told, I would be held and questioned. I thank God that you all are here, because if you were not here this morning, I might have been arrested.
“I was a passenger. I do not give aircrafts clearance. I went through the government security checks when I was going out. I make sure that I go through security checks whenever I travel, whether at the main terminal or here at the lounge,” Dr Douglas said. (CMC)
