Judge rules SKN Gov't breached agreements; orders consultant be paid damages

A High Court judge has found that the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government breached the contract of local consultant, Mrs Hazel Ross-Robinson, after it took office in February 2015.

His Lordship Justice Eddy Ventose accepted the "unchallenged evidence" of Mrs Ross-Robinson and the "uncontroverted evidence" of the former Chief Secretary Mr Joseph Edmeade during a two-day trial in February.

Justice Ventose in his ruling handed down on March 26, also found that Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris when he appeared in the witness box for his government, confirmed the evidence of Mrs Ross-Robinson.

The Court also accepted the evidence of the Chief Personnel Officer, Mrs Torfrieda Rochester that the Cabinet Secretary Mrs Josephine Huggins gave her oral instructions to stop Mrs Ross-Robinson's salary.

Under cross-examination Mrs Rochester said she was informed by Mrs Huggins that Mrs Ross-Robinson's 2013 Agreement was to be determined and that she was to place a hold on Mrs Ross-Robinson's salary, thereby breaching the 2013 Agreement and the Oral Agreement.

Justice Ventose ordered that the Government pays the Claimant EC$24,135.50 for breach of the 2013 Agreement, EC$2,000 for breach of the Oral Agreement, any gratuity and vacation due to her, interest at a rate of 5 percent per annum from the date of judgment until final payment and costs.

Mrs Ross-Robinson was represented by Mr Sylvester Anthony and Mrs Angelina Gracey Sookoo-Bobb.

The Government was represented by Mr Dane Hamilton QC and Mr Victor Elliott-Hamilton of Antigua.