BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - LEADER of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Dr. Terrance Drew is calling for Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris to take action against the Minister of Tourism, Lindsay Grant, following charges laid against him.
Grant is being accused of beating a female Police Officer and assaulting a male Police Officer in connection with an incident that occurred at the Last Lap Bar and Restaurant in Bird Rock on Saturday (Jan. 8).
Drew described the charges against Grant as having cast a dark cloud over the people and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, while calling on Dr. Harris to “exercise your constitutional authority in relieving the Hon. Lindsay Grant of his ministerial appointment until he clears his name of this criminal matter”.
The medical practitioner cited Section52(4) of the Constitution for the removal of the sitting Minister: “Appointments to the office of Ministers, other than the office of the Prime Minister, shall be made by the Governor General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, from among Members of the National Assembly.”
The Government has been silent on the accusation being laid against the Minister, but he has gained support from his party, the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and its leader Shawn Richards.
As it is with Grant, the PAM has expressed a sense of optimism that he would be able to clear his name.
But Grant had raised eyebrows when he broke his silence in a national address, indicating that there were forces within the Government that were hoping for him to be charged.
Dr. Drew is adamant that the Minister should be removed, also citing Section 52(9) (a): “The office of any Minister shall become vacant -- if the Governor General acting on the advice of Prime Minister so directs.”
