Ottley Hall Inquiry gets go ahead

The Commission of Inquiry into the Ottley Hall Marina Project has been given the all clear to continue. However, for the meantime, it will continue without the input of former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell.{{more}}

The OECS Court of Appeal on March 3, 2008, ordered that the stay on proceedings be lifted.

On September 14, 2007, Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle had refused to grant Sir James leave to apply for judicial review of certain decisions of the Commission of Inquiry, and lifted the stay that had been imposed on the proceedings. On October 5, 2007, however, leave was granted to Sir James to appeal Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle’s decision, and the stay on the proceedings was re-imposed.

Sir James’ appeal was heard on November 29, 2007, before their Lordships Acting Chief Justice Sir Brian Alleyne SC, Hugh Rawlins and Errol Thomas, in open court, in Dominica. Ramesh Lawrence Mararaj SC and Mira E Commissiong appeared for Sir James. The respondents were sole Commissioner in the Inquiry Ephraim George and the Attorney General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They were represented by Anthony Astaphan SC and Joseph Delves.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the judges ruled that the Inquiry should proceed in accordance with its Terms of Reference, except in relation to Sir James, “pending the delivery of the judgment in the Appeal.”