Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has disclosed that Special Prosecutor Robert Innocent, appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, has begun working.
“He started work yesterday,” Pierre told reporters on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister spoke on the sidelines of a House of Assembly meeting.
Pierre said he would expect the Special Prosecutor to do his job according to the legislation.
On Monday, Pierre’s office announced Robert Innocent’s appointment.
The office said his appointment marks a significant step forward in the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity.
According to an Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) release, the appointment would send a no-tolerance message regarding misconduct by public officials.
Saint Lucia’s Special Prosecutor Act empowers an attorney-at-law appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to serve as Special Prosecutor.
The legislation also authorises the office holder to receive complaints and investigate credible reports of corrupt conduct by incumbent public officials and public officials who have demitted office.
Asked about investigating the opposition, Prime Minister Pierre told reporters he would allow the Special Prosecutor to do his job.
Meanwhile, Choiseul MP Bradley Felix has promised that the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) would cooperate.
Felix wished the Special Prosecutor all the best, declaring that much work was ahead.
He hoped the appointee would address ongoing and past matters and wondered whether Innocent would be working from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“Whatever cooperation he requires from the opposition he will receive,” Felix told reporters.
He also responded when asked whether the Special Prosecutor appointment would facilitate a witch hunt targeting the UWP.
” We’ll wait and see. I think it was a promise the current Government had made to the population so let’s see where that leads,” Felix asserted.
He said he did not fear any investigation.
Witch hunt ? Bradley u think people blind . Ur’ll was clear like daylight.
All of them need investigating. SLP. UWP.
I hope it is not a yes man they put there to only served in one sidedness, we have seen that happen to many other caricom nations such as guyana, jamaica, haiti, trinidad. It is being used as a weapon to hush opposition mostly.
Start with the sale of crown lands at a price way below actual value, without first advertising the land for sale publicly.
There is some information that needs to be disseminated to the public before rollout of a special prosecutor. After all, there is room for serious abuse by both parties. I don’t trust those parties for one minute.
-Explain the mechanism that triggers a referral to the special prosecutor.
-Inform the public of the anonymous aspects of the prosecutor’s work.
-Who or what entity is responsible for the prosecutor’s initial employment/continued employment?
–In case of malfeasance by the special prosecutor, what steps can a lay person take?
*There are other questions, however, these need immediate explanation.
I like this comment @”Poule Foo” I find this government during the term have been hasty to put things in place without doing the necessary legwork and consultations which ends up with loads of backtracking. Eh Sugar tax, H&S levy with numerous delays and exempt/ non exempt items. Hopefully this one goes without a hitch.
I fully support @Poule Foo and @Mind’s Eye comments.
Too long politicians “think” that the public are unintelligent people (as they were once as well!). They always talk about transparency, accountability and integrity – words with no back up.
I wish Mr Innocent all the best (not luck), and hope he shoots straight and from the hip.