Call made Monday for resignation of PAM Leader following stunning bribery talks confession

 BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 12TH 2010 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of State for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt has called on the Political Leader of the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), Mr. Lindsay F.P. Grant to resign.
 
The call came at an East Basseterre political meeting Monday evening after Grant admitted his involvement in bribery negotiations.
 
“Did you hear what Grant admitted to at a public meeting on Sunday night? That he attended a meeting Sunday morning in a room at a local hotel with an unknown investor, where he discussed and negotiated a bribe of US $1.7million for his PAM party. Grant admitted to a negotiation taking place; discussing the exact bribe amount... even though he is now saying that he was actually just playing along,” Skerritt said.
 
Senator Skerritt was referring to Lindsay Grant’s open platform confession at a political meeting in Sandy Point that he had met with a man he identified as Graham Wills with whom he (Grant) said he had negotiated a payment for the PAM Party in exchange for Wills being allowed to buy prime St. Kitts land at a significantly reduced cost, in the event that PAM was to form the Government following the January 25th poll.
 
“Grant admitted at the public meeting that he had discussed selling 200 acres of prime real estate for just $20,000 USD an acre, less than 25% of the current market value. He admitted that in return Wills first offered him cash gift of $1.5million and then agreed to pay $1.7million to the PAM party to fund their election campaign… is this man Grant insane?
What the hell was he doing having a meeting like this?!”
 
“Grant tried to reassure his supporters that he was just joking; just teasing; just playing.” Senator Skerritt continued. “He now says that this was a false bribe - and that he knew this all along. Is this man Grant serious? So if he knew it was a game why did he turn up to meet Wills? An ethical and responsible leader doesn’t play with negotiating a bribe, much less with a stranger in a strange location. You don’t play with fixing a ridiculous price for our land; for our country. Why was Grant even in the room with this man he now admits he did not know? What poor judgment Grant possesses? How could he be so stupid? Grant cannot seriously want to be Prime Minister or even a parliamentary representative,” Skerritt exclaimed.
 
Listeners to Grant’s public confession, and his claim that he had been set up, were stunned since no accusation of his having taken a bribe had been made by either the media or the Labour Party – however, for some reason Lindsay Grant chose to admit and defend his position in public in advance of any such allegation. Questions are being asked as to why Grant is publicly defending bribery allegations that haven’t even been made. Political commentators are openly wondering whether Mr. Grant has told the whole story and what else he may have to hide.
 
“I believe Grant panicked some time after he left the meeting, having been scolded by his advisors for what he had done, and decided to confess publicly just in case the story came to light later” Skerritt said. “But this situation has the potential to be a national scandal and Grant should be writing his letter of resignation as leader of PAM.” Skerritt said.
 
“Whatever spin Grant is now putting on this bribery story, if he even set foot in that room... if he actually discussed a bribe - then he should resign immediately” Senator Skerritt insisted.