Published 7 December 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
American arrested by police at the airport to pursue
legal action against the St. Kitts and Nevis Government
Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 7, 2017 – American Matthew Alvarez McMillan, President of BuzzMaker, an award winning political consulting firm specializing in eCampaign management, online advertising and international campaigns, has instructed his attorneys to pursue legal action against the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
The legal action relates to the politically-motivated detention of McMillan on Monday, 4 December when he was arrested and detained without charge for 12 hours at the Basseterre Police Station. He was released at 8 pm on Monday.
McMillan was detained by police at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport when he tried to depart the federation on Monday morning.
According to police, the US citizen was held for questioning regarding a police investigation into a drone being flown in the yard of Deputy Premier Mark Brantley on Friday.
McMillan was in Nevis working with the opposition Nevis Reformation Party on its campaign for the December 18, Nevis Island Assembly elections.
Mrs. Brantley, wife of Mark Brantley, the Deputy Premier of Nevis and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, complained to police that a drone hovered low over the family’s yard last Friday.
WINNFM reported that based on events following the incident, the Brantleys decided there was cause for concern and made a report to police and an investigation followed.
WINN FM also reported that as a result of said investigations, McMillan’s name was flagged in the emigration system and he was detained at the airport.
“This is abuse of political power, plain and simple. I will be taking legal action to send a message to all people whom government have victimized that you have rights and you have a voice. Some politicians may be rich and powerful, but, they are not above the law,” said Matthew McMillan in a statement.
“It is certainly concerning to the regional and international community when a government makes a politically motivated detention without charge. It is a sign that democracy is backsliding and it sends a troubling message to international investors, tourists and governments that St. Kitts/Nevis is not a place that respects political speech and that punishes political opponents with improper detentions,” Mr. McMillan continued.
He said the legal action is about protecting the freedom of speech and political opinion in the Federation of St. Kitts/Nevis and sending a clear message that “no matter how rich you are and no matter how powerful you are, you are not above the law.”
Photo: Matthew McMillan
