BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE evidence requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Valston Graham, will be made available prior to the next hearing of the case involving Dr. Terrance Drew and Eugene Hamilton, reportedly scheduled for Friday (Mar. 5).
According to media reports, the attorney for Dr. Drew, who is the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s Chairman, has agreed to present the evidence to the DPP in the Private Criminal Charges brought against People’s Action Movement’s member, Hamilton.
The DPP had stepped in to take over the case, citing Section 65 which gives him jurisdiction into criminal matters.
Drew brought charges of Treating and Bribery against his competitor, whom he unsuccessfully contested the 2020 General Elections for the Constituency Eight Seat.
Graham told reporters at a media conference that he was only recently made aware of the case, and since it involves a government minister he is invoking Section 65.
Graham, at that same press conference, defended his decision to take over the case as many took to social media to criticise him, citing his friendship with a senior party member.
However, the DPP, while acknowledging his friendship, said he would be fair in the matter, as he had done with all other cases involving representatives from both political parties.
“I am no political pundit! I don’t like politics period! Do I have political friends on both sides of the aisle? I do, like we all do. I do not make decisions based on political wishes or political pulls,” he emphasised.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party said that attorneys for its Chairman requested that in “the interest of fairness and transparency” that DPP Valston Graham “engage external Counsel to take care and conduct and prosecute the matter on behalf of your office”.
Graham told reporters that once he is in receipt of the evidence and would have reviewed it he would make a determination on the way forward.
“...I would examine it like I do in all criminal matters and then I will make a determination on the future of the matter.”
