Last Updated on December 4, 2019, 2:37 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas has joined calls for the resignations of St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism and International Trade, Hon Lindsay Grant and Ambassdor for Sports and Culture, Jonel Powell.
The resignation call comes following a default judgment in the High Court in October against Grant and Powell for breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and failure to account or misappropriation of US$460,000 (EC$1.2 million) belonging to a client.
Dr Douglas told a public meeting in the constituency of St Christopher 1 (East Basseterre) on Sunday night that he has also written to Governor General His Excellency Sir S W Tapley Seaton and the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association calling for the resignations of Grant and Powel who are no longer fit to serve as public officials or as lawyers.
A client has claimed that USD $460,000 was transferred to the bank accounts of Grant and Powell at the St Kitts branch of First Caribbean International Bank in May 2013, for the purchase of a condominium unit under the Citizenship By Investment Programme and to secure title for the property.
Following the hearings before a Master at several dates in 2018, the High Court in Feb, 2019, understood the conditions of the default judgment and ordered Grant, Powell to pay all the damages. Grant and Powell later filed for a stay of the previous Order and a hearing was set for September 26, 2019 before Justice Eddy Ventose.
On October 28, 2019, Justice Ventose refused to set aside the default judgment and ordered that Tanzil and Grant and Powell make submissions on the assessment of damages for a December 12, 2019 hearing.
Resignation calls have come for Hon Konris Maynard, Hon Marcella Liburd and Mr Robelto Hector.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
