Senate President Stanley Felix Arrested, Charged and Relieved of Senatorial Duties

President of the Senate Stanley Felix has been relieved of his senatorial duties in the Upper House of Parliament after he was arrested Thursday and charged yesterday for Perverting the Course of Justice according to the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia, revised edition 2005, section 376.

A statement 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 highest levels of professionalism and integrity from all public officials at all times. As such, the Governor General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister and pursuant to section 27 (2) (e) of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, has been advised to revoke Mr. Felix’s appointment and relieve him of his Senatorial duties in the Upper House of Parliament. His successor will 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 government and all related state affairs remains 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 statement yesterday in 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 in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) cash or suitable surety. He was also assigned reporting conditions and travel restrictions,” stated police.

The opposition United Workers Party also weighed in on the Felix matter yesterday by calling for his removal as President of the Senate.

The party, in a statement, said it was appalled by the situation and that the call for Felix’s removal from the Senate was due to the sensitivity of his position as President of the Senate.

“The United Workers Party sees this as another dark day in the history of Saint Lucia, when the country is already battered by an increase 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 within his Cabinet in the interest of this country.”