BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, AUGUST 28TH 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - If the Labour Government had not violated a court ordered injunction, the substantive court matter would've been heard in July, not August, thereby speeding up the process. The injunction violation led to a very serious contempt of court trial and conviction against Labour Government officials.

"If the Labour Government had obeyed the rule of law and not violated the injunction, the substantive matter would've been heard by the High Court beginning on 8 July," said PAM Parliamentarian Shawn Richards. "Instead, the Prime Minister's government snubbed their nose at our democratic institutions and openly violated a court ordered injunction. You can't violate the rule of law and get away with it. That act caused the substantive matter to be pushed into August so that Labour officials could be held accountable for breaking the law."

Richards continued, "If Prime Minister Douglas wanted to speed up the trial, he shouldn't have snubbed his nose at the rule of law. He should've obeyed the court ordered injunction so that our case in defense of democracy and free and fair elections could've been heard by the court in July, not August."

One Labour Government official was ultimately found guilty of contempt of court - a very serious violation - for his role in the injunction violation.

Richards went on to criticise the Prime Minister for setting a bad example for our young people. After his Attorney General was found guilty of a serious offense, Prime Minister Douglas refrained from firing the convicted official.

"The people of St. Kitts & Nevis deserve a government that respects the courts, our democratic institutions and the rule of law," said Mr. Richards. "We have a crime and murder crisis in the Federation. As leaders, we're role models for our young people. What kind of example is Labour setting when they openly violate court orders and are convicted for contempt of court? Despite being convicted for a very serious offense, the Prime Minister refused to fire his Attorney General even after multiple opposition parties called on him to do so."

 Richards concluded, "The Prime Minister and the Labour Government are sending exactly the wrong message to our young people. It's time to elect a new government that sets the right example for our young people by respecting the rule of law."