Jagdeo calls for Minister Patterson’s brother to be investigated

– Minister promises not to influence the outcome of the case

Given recent reports that the brother of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson was charged in Grenada for trafficking narcotics, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has suggested that Government launch an investigation to determine whether he was given certain privileges here.

Jagdeo was responding to a question posed to him in relation to whether the brother of the Public Infrastructure Minister should be investigated. It was explained that relatives of Ministers and other top Government officials are usually given special privileges when travelling.
“This is what the Government should launch a full investigation into. Since this is a clean Government that does not tolerate drug dealing,” the former Head of State told the local media.
Derrick Patterson, the younger brother of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, was arrested by Grenadian Police and arraigned in court on charges of cocaine trafficking.
According to reports from The New Today, a Grenadian news agency, Patterson was remanded to Grenada’s Richmond Hill Her Majesty’s Prison after appearing in court before Chief Magistrate Tamara Gill at the St George’s Number One Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
It is understood that Patterson was charged with trafficking a controlled drug; a total of 2.325kg of cocaine, with an approximate street value of $232,500, that was found in his possession on May 2.
Jagdeo noted that questions about whether the coalition’s campaign for the May 2015 General and Regional Elections was financed by drug money are ones that will have to be answered.
“These are the same people who accused the PPP of being in bed with drug dealers, they have it right in their own home…what are they going to say now?” he said in relation to Patterson’s brother’s arrest.
While Jagdeo did not call for Patterson’s resignation because of his brother’s actions, he recalled that Rashleigh Jackson, a former Government Minister resigned when his son was busted with drugs.
However, he added that there are grounds for a call for his resignation based on his actions at the Public Infrastructure Ministry.
Jagdeo also noted too that news of Patterson’s arrest did not come to light locally until weeks after the fact. “This came up almost three weeks after it happened…this incident happened since May 2,” he said.

Shocked
Meanwhile, Minister Patterson finally broke his silence on the matter on Thursday evening in a post on social media. The Minister said members of his family were shocked to learn of his brother’s arrest.
“My mother, my sisters and I are deeply distressed and concerned and are anxious to learn the full details of this unpleasant development,” he stated.
He continued, “Our position is that Derrick is a matured adult of 47 years and he must bear full responsibility for the consequences of his actions. Neither I nor any other member of my family can take responsibility for his own, deliberate actions.”
Patterson said while his family hold out hope that there may have been a mistake, “he must face the consequences if he is found guilty in a court of law. We have no reason to believe that he will not be treated fairly by the Grenadian legal system.”
Further, the Minister said he and his family will give him all the support they legally can, but we will not condone any proven illegal conduct.
“As a Minister of Government, I would like to assure the Guyanese public that I have not and will not attempt to influence the outcome of these serious allegations made against my brother in any way whatsoever.”