By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 11th October 2018) – Leon Natta, the individual expected to run against Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Timothy Harris in the next general elections got arrested this week, two days after a lawfully obtained weapon was taken away by police the day after he missed renewing that firearm license.
The well-known customs officer, who is believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s and is unofficially identified as a political candidate of the opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party(SKNLP), hails from Constituency Seven for which PM Harris, 53, is the Parliamentary Representative.
Yesterday (10th October), police issued a statement informing that the Molineux resident was formally arrested and charged for failing to renew his Firearm Users License between February 01, 2018 and October 07, 2018.
The weapon, along with 25 rounds of ammunition, were confiscated by police on Monday 8th October.
According to police, the firearm license expired on December 31, 2017 and Natta failed to renew the license within the lawfully stipulated period which would have been on or before January 31, contrary to section 44(4) of the Firearm Act (2009).
Following Natta’s arrest, he was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $10,000 with two sureties for his appearance before the Basseterre Magistrate in December.
Police, via its statement issued on the day of the arrest publicised information from Section 44(5) of the Firearm Act that: “Any person who fails to pay the appropriate fee in accordance with the provisions of this section commits an offence and, on summary conviction thereof before a Magistrate, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars and in default of payment to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not less than twelve months and not exceeding three years.”
To date, the SKNLP has two more new incoming candidates to officially announce for Constituencies Five and Seven in completing its eight-member slate to contest the next general elections constitutionally due in 2020.
Nata and the other fresh candidate have both been making appearances at the Party’s organised community activities and events.
Natta’s arrest has sparked public debate on the topic of party politics.