Tourism Minister Grant settles 10-year-old debt one day before court hearing
St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism and International Trade, Hon Lindsay F P Grant has settled a long 10-year-old debt one day before he was scheduled to appear before the High Court in Basseterre.
BuzzMaker’s President, Matthew A. McMillan has been in a protracted legal battle with Minister Grant. After years of refusing to pay monies owed, the prominent global political consulting firm filed suit against Minister Grant in 2015.
In September 2016, the High Court of St. Kitts & Nevis found the Minister liable for election-related debts to the political consulting firm. In September 2018, the High Court ordered Minister Grant to pay BuzzMaker the principle plus interest and cost. In spite of receiving those orders, Minister Grant continued to delay payment.
As a result, early in 2019, BuzzMaker filed a motion with the court to hold a summons hearing to inquire why Minister Grant failed to pay the judgment.
Minister Grant paid the full judgment on March 25 2019, a day before the hearing was scheduled on 26 March 2019.
In 2009, as political leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), an unregistered political party in St Kitts and Nevis, Grant entered into an agreement with BuzzMaker to provide political consulting services in the run-up to the 2010 general elections but failed to pay for the services rendered.
Buzzmaker invoiced Grant for services rendered during the period July 2009 through December 2009 for a total of US$28,841.20. Grant paid a total of US$18,235, the last payment being on November 14, 2011. Buzzmaker therefore sought judgment against Grant in the outstanding sum of US$10,606.20 plus interest in accordance with the terms of the agreement at a rate of 5% for every 15 calendar days the outstanding sum remains unpaid.
Grant had claimed that he had only signed the contract in his capacity as political leader of PAM, a position he resigned from in September 2012 and had never in his personal capacity entered into a contract or agreement with BuzzMaker.
BuzzMaker’s attorneys had successfully argued that Grant was liable for the debts incurred and the court agreed.