That's the million dollar questioning still occupying the mind of former Opposition Leader, Michael Baptiste as police and court officials stormed his home last Thursday morning in an attempt to seize three of his vehicles.
In a telephone interview with GRENADA TODAY, Baptiste said he was surprised when a party of State officials including the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) came to his home at Grand Bras, St. Andrew's to take possession of his vehicles in connection with a libel suit that he lost to government minister, Yolande Bain-Horsford.
The executive member of the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) described the move against him as "illegal" since the libel matter is still before the high court.
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Michael Baptiste |
Last year, Bain-Horsford, the current Minister of Social Development, won a libel suit against Baptiste in connection with an issue at a home for girls.
According to Baptiste, the matter is still before the high court since a presiding judge is trying to determine his means to pay the outstanding sums due to Minister Bain-Horsford.
The libel award owed to Minister Bain-Horsford is believed to be in excess of EC$50, 000.00.
Baptiste said that when the case came up in court on the last occasion, it was pointed out to the presiding judge that he had not been served notice for the hearing.
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Yolande Bain-Horsford |
A new date was set for April. However, State officials turned up at Baptiste's home in an attempt to seize the vehicles on the grounds that he had not paid the sums owed to the female government minister.
Baptiste quickly got into action and called his lawyer, Henry Paryag of GRENLAW Chambers who got confirmation from the Supreme Court Registry that the case was still before the court and no one had been authorised to effect seizure of the vehicles.
An official from the Registry apologised to Baptiste for the "illegal" raid that was carried out on his home.
He said that he planned on taking legal action against the State for invasion of private property, trespass, loss of use of his vehicles, trauma, pain and suffering by family members during the ordeal."The kids had to seek medical treatment as a result of the trauma suffered", he told GRENADA TODAY.
The former Opposition member was once a Cabinet minister in the current administration in St. George's headed by Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
He parted ways in 2000 with the regime and since then has been under constant pressure from the administration.
In 2003, police filed charges against Baptiste in connection with funds given to him by a Japanese group for whaling. The matter is still pending in court.
Baptiste has been a harsh critic of the Mitchell regime and playing a leading role in exposing corruption allegations against Prime Minister Mitchell and his deputy, Gregory Bowen in the United States.
