12 June 2019, St George’s: The Office of the Integrity Commission in St George’s Grenada will have to wait until 28 June for judgment from His Lordship Justice Godfrey Smith, in the matter brought against the institution by Ruel Edwards, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB). The case should have been heard last week Wednesday in the High Court which sits at the Parliament building at Mt Wheldale, upper Lucas Street in St George’s, but Mr. Edwards’ lawyer, Cajeton Hood, asked for an adjournment after he missed the 31 May deadline to file his submissions for the oral hearing in open court.

Justice Smith expressed his concerns about the missed deadline and noted that the court’s time was wasted, especially in light of the huge backlog of cases to he heard. He informed the parties that no other date was available in June for oral submissions, and gave instructions, with the consent of Mr. Hood and Ruggles Ferguson who represents the Commission, that the matter would be heard by written submissions only.

Mr. Hood was given 14 June as the deadline to file his submissions, and Mr. Ferguson will have until 21 June to respond.

Justice Smith said he will deliver judgment in the matter on 28 June.

The Integrity Commission in a news conference last August announced that it would be launching investigations into operations at the MNIB for the period 2012 to 2018, after media reports that there were allegations of impropriety at the statutory corporation. The MNIB is responsible for import and export of agricultural products and by-products and is the main outlet for produce from many farmers in Grenada. Mr.Edwards who served as Chairman of the MNIB from 2013 to April 2014 and CEO from April 2014 to April 2018, has challenged the legality of the Commission to launch an investigation without a complaint being filed directly to the institution.

The Commission has retained the services of Douglas Mendes, SC from Trinidad and Tobago, along with Mr. Ferguson, for representation in the matter.

The Integrity Commission team did not object to the adjournment, and Mr. Ferguson said the point to be argued is a matter of law and is not complex, so there is no need to present evidence. Therefore, having the matter dealt with by written submissions only, will not impact the outcome of the case.