BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN response to a question posed by this publication with regards to investigations of breaches and malpractices at the Electoral Office, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Vincent Byron Jr. insinuated that no one, including Parliamentarians, is above the law.
Shortly after taking office in 2015, the Government of National Unity had launched a two-prong investigation into what it described as breaches on and during the night of the Federal Elections.
Almost two years have elapsed since that time but the public is yet to hear what the outcome is.
In an exclusive interview, when asked about the slothfulness of the investigations, the AG stated that they are close to making a “determination or recommendations” to the Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“Ultimately, we expect the DPP will bring questions and criminal charges in some of the matters. To say more at this stage may prejudice what we would want to do,” he added.
The investigations had resulted in the closure of the Electoral Office for several months. They (investigations) were however hampered by the time the government took to appoint a new DPP and also a new Commissioner of Police.
AG Byron was also asked if the government, on completion of the investigations, would be able to prosecute those found to be culpable.
In response, he explained that there are laws on the books that would be able to permit such prosecution.
“There are a number of different areas that we can find ways to bring people to court for any sort of misconduct that they have had while being in public office. So there is a very clear precedent for that.”
He continued: “And not necessarily legislation per say. There may be some under the National Assembly Elections Act, but there are also questions of the Common Law that allow us to be able to do so, as well as there are other ways. But we are confident and our advice is that we can to have people conducting themselves properly.”
Coming out of those investigations, the government is expected to implement measures in order to create a better electoral system.
