Papers filed to mandate PM to appear

Lawyers for the New Democratic Party (NDP) have filed an application to the High Court to mandate the issuance of a summons of Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.{{more}}

The notice of application, lodged on Friday, January 14, 2011, states that: Vynnette Frederick, of Murray’s Road, in the state of St Vincent and the Grenadines, applies to the High Court for two orders.

These include: that Chief Magistrate Sonya Young be directed to issue a summons to Ralph Gonsalves in the first magisterial district Serious Offences Court, Kingstown suit no. SOC 19/11.

The other order states that the application for a summons in the first magisterial district Serious Offences Court, suit no. SOC 19/11 is not “frivolous and vexatious”.

Lawyers Kay Bacchus-Browne and Nicole Sylvester, on Tuesday, January 11, filed 10 criminal complaints against four government Ministers, including two against Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

The Chief Magistrate found that the two charges against Gonsalves, as well as two of those brought against Clayton Burgin, were “frivolous and vexatious,” and did not issue summons in those cases.

At a press conference held on January 14, 2011, both lawyers signalled their intention to challenge the Magistrate’s decision not to issue the summons in respect of the Prime Minister.

However, before any of the matters took flight, Director of Public Prosecutions, Colin Williams took over the cases and discontinued them.

The lawyers had also made it clear that they would be seeking judicial review of the DPP’s decision to take over and discontinue the six remaining matters. (KW)