Pensioners Association Faces Injunction

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Wednesday, 30 January 2013 02:30

By Carol Williams

Antigua, St John's - Operations at the Pensioner's Association are in danger of being halted temporarily, as five members have authorised their attorney to file an injunction.

The action could be filed at any time, according to trustee Walston Bowen, Public Relations Officer Hudson Knight, former executive member Reginald Pelle, and Assistant Secretary Doreen Philip.

"We are hoping we will get an injunction to stop all further action by the Pensioners Association, stop Mr Hunte from (putting in place) further procedures to have the election and that all court matters be settled before the election of officers," Bowen said.

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The association is due to hold its annual general meeting at the end of next month, at which time a new executive will be elected.

The four members, representing the "Concerned Group," said they remain dissatisfied with the way in which the association is functioning, with accountability being their primary concern.

"What is needed is accountability of the association's money, because when the purported financial statement was put to the last meeting, it was voted out … and nothing has been done to improve the situation," said Philip.

She and the other members were expelled from the association last month after raising concerns about the stewardship, limited access to the bus, and computers donated to the association, as well as the Nugent Avenue headquarters.

A letter issued to Bowen on January 14 charged that he was part of the group that has mounted a media campaign against the integrity of the affairs of the association.

"...Consequently, the executive, after consideration is not willing nor able to tolerate your presence in any future meetings or functions," said the correspondence that was signed by five members, including President Charles “Eddie” Hunte.

It added, "At a meeting on the last Thursday in December 2012, the general body reached a consensus that no ‘concerned group’ could be accepted, working in opposition to the general and smooth operations of the association, and that such practice had outlived any welcome it may have enjoyed.

"Having regard to the foregoing, the executive body wishes to inform you that you are hereby expelled from the association with immediate effect for unbecoming behavior and gross disrespect to the chair."

The members contend that this decision is illegal, since it is not provided for in their Constitution, and some of the people who are functioning as executive members are doing so without the necessary authorization.

Additionally, they said changes have been made to the Constitution without the consent of the general body.

Last year, the High Court registrar ruled that Denfield Matthew and four other members who were dismissed from the association in June should be reinstated.

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The Concerned Group said while they were welcomed back, they were not allowed to resume their executive functions.

Bowen insists the association is not a private members’ club, as has been argued by the president.

The members said since the association was formally registered in 2002, they have only seen a copy of the accounts for 2010, which was rejected.

Despite raising the aforementioned issues, Knight said, "We are not trying to destroy the association; we are not trying to form another association, all we want is to regularise things for the Antigua & Barbuda Pensions Association."

The group has discussed their complaints with the registrar, Minister of Finance Harold Lovell, and Senator Malaka Parker of the Ministry of Social Transformation, among others.

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