BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ATTORNEY-GENERAL of St. Kitts and Nevis Hon. Dr. Dennis Merchant headed back to court this morning (Nov. 2) to appeal a high court ruling in which he was found guilty on Contempt of Court charges.
The ruling was handed down by Her Ladyship Justice Rita Joseph-Olivetti on August 7 and the Attorney-General of three years was censured and reprimanded, bearing serious implications for his professional career.
Merchant was also required to pay legal costs to the claimants in the matter.
Merchant’s lawyers made an immediate move to appeal the case, as it was argued that the ruling was bringing the Office of the Attorney-General into disrepute.
Charges against Merchant stemmed from a July 2 injunction filed by opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) party that barred the AG from “making use” of a report compiled by the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC) outlining new electoral boundaries for St. Kitts.
Six days after the injunction was granted, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas laid the CBC report in Parliament, triggering strong statements of dissent by Leader of the Opposition Hon. Mark Brantley.
Legal proceedings in the matter proved lengthy and PAM lawyers argued that Merchant had either advised the Prime Minister incorrectly, or failed to advise the government at all that the report was barred from being put before Parliament.
Since the August 7 ruling by Olivetti, there have been calls from Brantley and the political leader of PAM, Lindsay Grant, for the AG to resign. However, government lawyers have placed their confidence in the Court of Appeal for a more favourable ruling.
The hearing began this morning at 9:00 a.m. and is anticipated to bring some closure to the charges laid against the AG.
