MiyVue.com Misleading Charge #1
This is the first phrase from the MiyVue.com article that has drawn scores of objections: “…the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas said he is not aware of what it is costing the government, to open the office (Dubai Consulate). He did not indicate who else in the administration may have such figures.”
“The article that MiyVue.com wrote does not reflect what the PM said in his response to the Observer. Why is MiyVue.com not reporting the truth? When they report the wrong thing, we look at the PM in a different way when in fact we were misled in the first place and then we get vex with the PM because MiyVue.com reported the wrong thing.” The quotation cited is one of the comments provided by a reader of MiyVue.com’s article.
The Questions & The Answers Unedited
LK Hewlett of the St. Kitts-Nevis Observer asked the Right Honourable Prime Minister, “Last time we spoke, you said you’d give us an update, you’d get back to me on the figures as to what I Consulate in Dubai would cost the people of St. Kitts. Can you give us an update as to where we’re at? I think you said you were trying to procure the building or the space, whatever, and, so could you tell us what’s going on with that?”
The Right Honourable Prime Minister responded, “The building office space has been secured, contract has been signed. The figures I don’t have but I’m sure Mr. Newton in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can give you the figures if you ask him. But we have advanced and so we’re now waiting for the final, official opening of the Consulate.”
Ms. Hewlett followed-up with, “Any time frame on that?”
The Right Honourable Prime Minister responded, “I’m not certain, September, October, I’m not certain. That of course is determined by other factors. It’s very hot in Dubai at this time plus a few weeks ago they were into Ramadan. Nothing happens during Ramadan and so they were awaiting until all these and then there was Eid I think it was, another religious celebration period. And so I’m expecting by September, October, things would be moving forward.”
Ms. Hewlett followed-up with, “Moving forward or would be opened?”
The Right Honourable Prime Minister responded, “Opened; That’s what I mean.”
Ms. Hewlett followed-up with, “Would it be staffed by locals? You have staff identified?”
The Right Honourable Prime Minister responded, “Well, Ms. Woodley has already been appointed as the Consul General and of course it would need other staff; maybe local, local meaning there, UAE, would have to have some support staff I would think. And the idea I think was that it’ll have people from here also moving in to lend support here and there. It’s being put together. I don’t know the final details as yet but it’s being put together.”
Ms. Hewlett followed-up with, “So, hoping to get the figures maybe by next. Oh you said Mr. Newton?”
The Right Honourable Prime Minister responded, “Oh yes, Mr. Newton. I don’t walk around with figures in my head.”
It is fair to report that MiyVue.com’s claim that the Right Honourable Prime Minsiter “did not indicate who else in the administration may have such figures,” was not reporting truthfully, what the Prime Minister said in his response.
The Right Honourable Prime Minister indicated not once, but twice, that he was sure that Mr. Elvis Newton, who is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry which has oversight for the Consulate, would provide the costing information (if he was asked).
The video copy of the question and answer session above can be viewed by going to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SH49jnpUgw
MiyVue.com Misleading Charge #2
The second phrase from the MiyVue.com article that also attracted objections was this one:
“The establishment of such an office in Dubai came under heavy scrutiny by the general public especially after it was made known that the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sam Condor, was unaware that plans had been finalized and details had been confirmed regarding the launch of the new facility.”
“I am surprised that MiyVue.com has not caught up with this story. Since earlier in the year this story was cleared up. It seems they are deliberately trying to resurrect old untruths.” That was another comment provided by a reader of the MiyVue.com article.
In fact, April 4, 2012, the Cabinet Secretariat issued and published a statement that addressed and clarified the Dubai Consulate confusion. Extracted from that statement was the following:
“In 2009 when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was under the portfolio of the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil L Douglas, the Government took the decision to pursue a refocused foreign policy coordination strategy with emphasis on the development of relations with traditional and non-traditional partners and countries and therefore agreed to target those nations that, in its view, will bring benefit to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. These included Qatar, India, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, all of which were considered areas of strategic interest, specifically as it related to foreign direct investment, renewable energy as well as tourism, trade, inter alia.”
The statement went on to say, “In keeping with the standard procedures for formalizing relations and seeking approval for the establishment of a Consulate in the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated dialogue with the Government of the UAE. The process was formalized through the signing of a Joint Communiqué at the ambassadorial level on 16 June 2010 consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic/Consular Relations. HE Delano Bart signed on behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
It emphasized, “For the avoidance of doubt it must be noted that the process was already in train when Minister Condor assumed the position of Minister with responsibility of Foreign Affairs in 2010. The process continued during his tenure.”
On the question of Deputy PM Condor’s knowledge, the Cabinet Secretariat’s Statement of April 4th stated, “The composition of the delegation that travelled to Dubai on March 14, 2012 was informed by the interrelatedness of the issues to be discussed and the actions to be taken to advance the establishment of the Consulate. In fact, the Minister (Condor) was informed and he raised no objection to the inclusion of his Permanent Secretary on the delegation at that time.”
The feedback provided by the MiyVue.com reader citing that MiyVue.com was not up to date on the issue was arguably justified.
MiyVue.com Misleading Charge #3
The third phrase from the MiyVue.com article that also attracted objections was this one:
“One other key development that was said to have widened the gap of disagreement between the Prime Minister and his Foreign Affairs Minister was the appointment of the mother of the children and close personal associate of the Prime Minister. The Minister of Foreign Affairs had stated publicly that he was not consulted on the appointment.”
“These series of untruthful reports appear to be deliberate and I wonder what is their (MiyVue.com) motive.” That was the final comment provided by a reader of the MiyVue.com article.
A comprehensive explanation about Ms. Woodley’s appointment as Consul General was provided in the April 4th, 2012 Cabinet Secretariat Statement. It read as follows:
“In endeavouring to complete the process as part of its regular duties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a Diplomatic Note dated February 14, 2011(initialled by a Senior Foreign Service Officer) requested approval to set up our Consulate. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis sought and received approval for the appointment of the Consul General to Dubai and is satisfied that Ms. Alex Woodley, the officer designated for the post and who currently serves in a dual capacity as Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations and who also, without compensation for the last nine years, performs the duties of Deputy Consul General in New York, is eminently qualified. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance and a Masters of Laws in International Taxation. She is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA). Ms Woodley has over sixteen years experience in the field of international relations and diplomacy having also acted in the absence of the Permanent Representative/Head of Mission to the United Nations.”
It went on to state: “Having received the approval since 2010 and following at least two visits by the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister during which the matter was again raised, it was necessary for the Government to complete the accreditation process and the related logistics/administrative arrangements to ensure that the Federation was serious and credible.”
The entire Cabinet Secretariat Statement can be found at: http://www.cuopm.com/newsitem_new.asp?articlenumber=2879&;post200803=true
In 2004, the Prime Minister’s Office established the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM.com). The site features almost every video-taped presentation by the Right Honourable Prime Minister including his Press Conferences, his weekly radio show “Ask the PM” and the periodic Post Cabinet Briefing.
Therefore, the general public that is “online” which now includes thousands of young people who received their laptops from the Government one-to-one laptop initiative, can retrieve accurate information and media should have no excuse to make errors when it comes to quoting the Prime Minister.
It was therefore very puzzling, to read inaccuracy after inaccuracy in the MiyVue.com article.