The Constitution Requires DPP to Vacate Office

(ZIZ News) – The saga continues between the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] and the government.

News spread recently that Travers Sinanan was no longer serving in the capacity of DPP as his contract had ended. Since then, Sinanan has revealed that he is taking legal action against the government but, in a release from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, it is said that in accordance with the constitution, the DPP must vacate his office.

The Constitution of St. Kitts-Nevis requires the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to vacate his office at the age of 55 and that the prescribed age act permits the DPP to remain in office past that age, for a period agreed between him and the Governor General, but not later than his 60th birthday provided that the agreement was entered into before the DPP turns 55 years.

Sinanan was appointed for a period of two years, with the contract expiring on July 15, 2015.

The Press Secretary’s release says, at that time, Sinanan was already past the age of 55 so the government decided not to renew the contract because he was already over 55 years when the original contract was granted.

Also according to the release, the contract that Sinanan signed stated that his appointment could be renewed, but only with the government’s agreement.