NDC gets green light to name candidate

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Karl Hood.

By Linda Straker

THE matter did not go through the formal court mediation process, but both parties in a matter which had political implications for the ruling administration, walked out of court feeling victorious.

The High Court last week Thursday ruled that former Foreign Affairs Minister’s injunction to prohibit the party from naming a candidate for the St. George’s South East constituency could not stand, thereby giving the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) the green light to appoint a caretaker for the constituency.

The Court ruled that the expulsion of Karl Hood at the September 30 convention was not in accordance with the Party’s Constitution and he should be re-instated as a member of the party.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister had filed an injunction calling on the court to prevent the party, headed by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, from naming a caretaker as well as his expulsion from the party earlier this year.

In her judgement, Justice Mohammed ordered that the Defendants and each of them whether by themselves, their agents, servants and successors or otherwise with immediate effect are restrained from taking any action whatsoever or howsoever styled aimed at preventing, or otherwise impeding participation of the Claimant in the activities and processes of the NDC pursuant to the decision communicated to the Claimant by letter dated October 4, 2012 until the determination of this action.

“This order is conditional on the Claimant undertaking to be liable in damages to the Defendants in the event that the Court later finds that the Defendants have suffered any loss or damage as a consequence of the making of this Order,” said the judgement.

“The substantive matter about the expulsion will be argued in the court when the date is set, but for now we can go ahead and name our caretaker for the same constituency,” said NDC General Secretary, Bernard Isaac.

Prime Minister Thomas has already defended the decision to expel five former government ministers, two former party chairmen and a leading trade unionist from the party at the end of September, accusing them of colluding with the opposition “in their vengeful bid to bring the government down and then thereafter to deliver votes to the opposition”.

Former Tourism Minister, Peter David, who also served as the party’s general secretary for the past 10 years, and Hood, who filed a motion of no confidence in Parliament against the Thomas administration, were among those who were expelled.

Prominent trade unionist, Chester Humphrey, who is also president of the Technical and Allied Workers’ Union (TAWU), was also given the boot.

The others expelled included former government ministers – Joseph Gilbert, Arley Gill and Glynis Roberts.