PM calls on Opposition Leader to apologise to Speaker

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has called on Opposition Leader Stephenson King to apologise to Speaker Peter Foster as the controversy over the alleged conflict of interest in the ongoing public inquiry into the St. Lucia Fire Service took yet another turn. Anthony, replying to a letter sent to him by King on the appointment of counsel to the Commission, said that Foster committed no breach of the House of Assembly, as the Contracts with Government (Disqualification) Act, only applies to persons seeking election to the House of Assembly or to a parliamentarian who has breached the legislation by failing to disclose an interest in a contract made with the government. “Mr. Foster is not an elected parliamentarian. As far as I am aware, there is not pending, any election to which he is eligible to seek election. Therefore, there is no obvious conflict of interest as claimed by you.”