July 7, 2020
In another twist in the Grant and Powel “Misappropriation of Client’s Funds” saga, the Chief Justice of the OECS Supreme Court of Appeal, the Honourable Dame Janice Pereira denied the application by the Hon. Lindsay Grant and the Hon. Jonel Powell on July 6, 2020.
Grant and Powell asked for “an extension of time within which to seek leave to appeal and set aside the default judgement” of Justice J. Ventose that was handed down on October 28, 2019.
In this landmark ruling, the Chief Justice strongly condemns the application by Grant and Powell as negligent, reckless, futile and a complete waste of the Court’s time when she stated, on page 2 paragraph [1] of the ruling that “we refused the application to extend time for applying for leave to appeal, which in effect rendered the rolled-up applications for leave to appeal and a stay, otiose.”
With such a decisive ruling, Grant and Powell, have used their final lifeline to set aside the damning ruling of Justice J. Ventose. He found them to be liable of “Breach of Trust”, “Breach of their Fiduciary Duty” and for “Misappropriation of Monies belonging to the Claimant”, Mr. Tanzania Tobin Tanzil, in the amount of “US$460,000.00” or EC$1.2 million.
Given the gravity of the decision, all Courts across the Commonwealth Caribbean have already condemned these actions. In a sense, this ruling should provide a compelling reason for both guilty men to resign from public office.
Grant and Powell however, continue to disrespect the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. They defy national and regional norms demanding integrity in public office by continuing to parade themselves shamelessly in public office as Parliamentarians.
The July 6, 2020 ruling casts a dark cloud over the opening of the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis. This is due to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8, 2020. During the first sitting of Parliament Grant and Powell are due to take the Oath/Affirmation of Allegiance of Members.