Published 18 July 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
Former PLP Chairman says he think he knows who collected protection money from Chinese fugitive Ren Bia
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 18TH 2017 – The Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government remains silent on who was collecting protection money from Chinese fugitive Ren Biao, wanted for defrauding over US$100 million from state companies.
Former chairman of Prime Minister Harris’ co-ruling Peoples Labour Party (PLP), Douglas Wattley in his recent FaceBook posting has ruled out persons who served in the Labour Party Cabinet of former Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
“And whatever happened to the accusation that someone received payment for protection? I think I know who got paid and he is not in the former Cabinet. Why are these fellows so greedy? How much Ill- gotten gain do you need?” asked Mr. Wattley.
The former PLP chairman said he has heard that the PLP/CCM/PAM Government is silently asking the help of Caribbean governments to facilitate the exit of Ren Biao from St. Kitts and Nevis.
China, which does not have diplomatic relations with St. Kitts and Nevis said the twin-island Federation was fast becoming a haven for criminals by harbouring the Chinese fugitive and accused Prime Minister Harris of being un-cooperative on the issue.
China said it intercepted communication on April 16 in which the fugitive, an economic citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis called relatives in Beijing seeking an “additional US$190,000 to help to continue pay for his protection by Kittitian authorities.”
The Government first denied having formal information on the Ren Biao matter, but regional media outlet, CaribUpdate said its own investigation revealed that the issue was raised by Grenada with the Timothy Harris-led Administration in January this year.
There was a direct request made on the issue of Ren Biao in January to Miss Kay Bass, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis from the Permanent Secretary in Grenada.
This was followed by direct communications between the Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit of St. Kitts and Nevis, Ms. Jacqueline Berry and her counterpart in Grenada.
At a meeting in Basseterre, officials of the Timothy Harris Government and law enforcement officers including members of the High Command were provided with details of the claims of financial impropriety by Grenada Financial Intelligence Unit officials in April this year.
Kittitian security officials met for a full week in Basseterre with Chinese security officials over the issue in early April after they were granted a visa waiver.
Ren Biao was held for questioning by police in Nevis and released. His local lawyer Chesley Hamilton said his client and his family were awaiting new passports from the St. Kitts authorities.
