St Lucia PM sacks AG
(BBC) The Prime Minister of St Lucia, Stephenson King has sacked his attorney general, the first victim of a scandal that has scarred the credibility of the administration.
The King cabinet has been heavily censured in two court judgements for allowing Health Minister Keith Mondesir to use tax concessions- which were intended for his guest house Tuxedo Villas- on his private home.
The attorney general, Nicholas Frederick, has been widely ridiculed for his handling of the case.
The government explained that the appointment of the retired permanent secretary had been terminated to allow a young person to enter government.
The roles of health minister Mondesi and the tourism minister Allen Chastenet have also been criticised.
The opposition had called for the removal of all three ministers; a civil society alliance went even further by asking for the whole government to go.
Antigua Electoral Commissioners suspended
Three members of Antigua and Barbuda’s electoral commission have been suspended pending their appearance next month before an investigative tribunal.
The panel will examine their conduct leading up to the March 2009 general elections which were affected by a late start to polling in some constituencies.
The probe into the commissioners was set after a High Court judge nullified the elections of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and two of his Cabinet colleagues. The ruling has been appealed.
Chairman Sir Gerald Watt, Deputy Chairman Nathaniel James and member Lionel Hurst received their letters of suspension yesterday from the Governor General.
