President of the Senate Stanley Felix has been relieved of his senatorial duties within the Upper House of Parliament after he was arrested Thursday and charged yesterday for Perverting the Course of Justice in line with the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia, revised edition 2005, section 376.
A press release from the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday expressed Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s unhappiness with the situation and his acknowledgement of the predicament of Felix, a former candidate of the Saint Lucia Labour Party for the Castries Central Constituency.
“As Head of the Government, Hon. Pierre demands the very best levels of professionalism and integrity from all public officials in any respect times. As such, the Governor General acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Prime Minister and pursuant to section 27 (2) (e) of the Structure of Saint Lucia, has been advised to revoke Mr. Felix’s appointment and relieve him of his Senatorial duties within the Upper House of Parliament. His successor might be announced at a subsequent time,” noted the missive from the Office of the Prime Minister.
“The Prime Minister assures the Saint Lucian public that the continuation of the business of presidency and all related state affairs stays a priority to him and the Cabinet which he leads,” ended the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Public Relations Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force also issued a press release yesterday through which it was said that officers attached to the Major Crime Unit spearheaded an operation at La Clery, Castries, where a suspect was apprehended.
“Consequently, Stanley Felix of La Clery, Castries, was formally charged with the offence of Perverting the Course of Justice, Contrary to Section 376 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia. He was escorted before the First District Court where he was granted bail within the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) money or suitable surety. He was also assigned reporting conditions and travel restrictions,” stated police.
The opposition United Employees Party also weighed in on the Felix matter yesterday by calling for his removal as President of the Senate.
The party, in a press release, said it was appalled by the situation and that the decision for Felix’s removal from the Senate was resulting from the sensitivity of his position as President of the Senate.
“The United Employees Party sees this as one other dark day within the history of Saint Lucia, when the country is already battered by a rise in serious crime, particularly robberies and gun related homicides,” noted the UWP statement, which urged Prime Minister Pierre to “rid his government of any unsavoury characters and criminal elements inside his Cabinet within the interest of this country.”
