SKN’s Prime Minister has called for the upcoming court case involving the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis (DBSKN) and its former General Manager, Lenworth Harris, to be televised. It is scheduled for January 29^th 2025 and will shed light on allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds under Harris’s leadership.

The Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew stated during the wrap-up of the 2025 Budget debate “this trial must be televised. Transparency is vital to democracy, and the people deserve to know what occurred with their money.” The Prime Minister emphasized that the court proceedings will provide an opportunity for citizens to hear firsthand the details of how public funds were allegedly mishandled.

According to the Federal Government, a forensic audit conducted by the Canadian firm MNP LLP revealed financial irregularities during Harris’s tenure. These include the misuse of $74 million in government loans, expenditures related to the purchase of Southwell House and a lack of proper records to account for significant transactions.

The Prime Minister also criticized the former administration’s decision to halt external audits for the Development Bank starting in 2018, a move that undermined the institution’s financial credibility.  The court case will address claims of wrongful dismissal filed by Lenworth Harris, as well as a counterclaim by the Development Bank seeking accountability for financial losses suffered under his management.