by Linda Straker
- Scott’s appointment as senator was revoked in 2016
- Unauthorised cellphone matter first came to public attention by talk show host associated with NDC
- Pre-action protocol letter on 9 June gave Scott 7 days to work out repayment plan
Dr Keith Mitchell, Opposition and Political Leader of the main opposition New National Party (NNP), has described the decision by the Government to take civil and criminal action against a former senator accused of breaching the terms and conditions of using a government-issued cellphone between 2016 to 2019 as “pure political motive.”
“It is clear that it is pure political motive behind this. It’s a clear demonstration of desperation on the part of the hierarchy of the government,” Dr Mitchell said during an interview with Sheldon Scott, the accused former senator who hosts a nightly talk show endorsed by the NNP.
“Hold on, my brother, and keep going; you have 100% support from the New National Party and its team…You should continue to nail the government on issues of importance that the country is concerned about,” Dr Mitchell told Scott during a live interview on Thursday night.
The interview came 4 days after Scott was served with a pre-action protocol letter, demanding that he pay the government EC$115,393.33 and $41,544.30 in interest for the authorised use of the phone. The pre-action protocol letter on 9 June gave him 7 days to work out a formula for a 90-day repayment plan.
Scott was appointed a senator or a member of the Upper House of Parliament in 2013, but his appointment was revoked in 2016. Attorney-General Claudette Joseph said in a news conference on Monday, June 10, that Scott failed to hand in the government-issued cellphone when his appointment was revoked.
“On demitting office, without authorisation or permission, and in breach of the conditions under which the mobile phone was issued, Mr Scott retained it and unlawfully used it for his personal or other purposes. During such unauthorised use, the government continued to pay the service provider, Digicel, for all charges incurred. This state of affairs continued until July 2019 when the matter was brought to the public domain,” said Joseph.
That matter first came to public attention by a talk show host who is associated with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
