By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 30th April 2021) — SKNLP Chairman and Constituency Eight candidate Dr. Terrance Drew is accusing Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Valston Graham of blocking a private criminal complaint he brought against government minister Eugene Hamilton of PAM for alleged bribery and treating stemming from the June 2020 General Elections. The DPP discontinued the case before the magistrate court on Monday 26th April 2021.
Appearing on Freedom FM’s ‘Issues’ programme on Thursday 29th April 2021, Dr. Drew said: “He has blocked the case from being heard. He has blocked the case. If he didn’t get in the way, the case would have been heard… the DPP cannot throw out a case; he is a prosecutor. He has blocked my case from going forward.” Drew argued the matter should have been determined by a magistrate or a court, not by the DPP’s office, and expressed being in “total disagreement” with the discontinuation.
He pointed to two instances of perceived bias: the DPP held a press conference commenting on evidence he had not yet seen, and he took over the case immediately after the first magistrate (Eddy) recused himself for having previously acted as counsel for Hamilton. “Those are two instances that say there is perceived bias on the part of the DPP,” Drew said. He stated his lawyers are weighing options going forward. The DPP, speaking to media on 26th April, said he had sought the independent opinions of two Queen’s Counsel who found the charges of bribery and treating had “no realistic prospect of success.” Drew countered: “I have consulted two independent QCs who have reached different conclusions.”