…Min Patterson distances self from brother’s troubles
…slams those exploiting matter for political gains

MINISTER of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has distanced himself and the coalition government from the cocaine-smuggling charge his brother is caught up in, asserting that his sibling is a mature individual and must face the consequences of his actions.
Patterson’s brother, Derrick Patterson, was recently charged in Grenada for cocaine trafficking. He has been remanded to prison in that country.
In a statement issued on his Facebook page, Minister Patterson 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.”

According to Patterson, “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.”
Minister Patterson said that while the family holds 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. As a family, we will give him all support we legally can, but we will not condone any proven illegal conduct. I believe that every reasonable member of the public would understand our position.”

“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. This is the principled position which I firmly embrace and ought to be a lesson to many under a previous dispensation who, it is widely known, regularly interfered with the course of justice in matters involving their family members, friends and even acquaintances. To those who have already sought to exploit this matter to score political points, I wish to advise that I will play no part in contributing to that effort. Their attempts are nothing more than an attempt to detract attention from the work this government has been doing to develop a prosperous Guyana.”

Minister Patterson said thathaving provided these assurances, “I do not intend to provide a running commentary on every development that follows in this matter, or to respond to every attack from political detractors. The infrastructural challenges facing this country that this coalition government inherited are real, and I intend to continue to focus my energies and attention on the job I have been doing for the past three years on behalf of the people of Guyana – planning and building for the bright future awaiting them.
“Finally I wish to thank the many members of the public across Guyana, the diaspora and the political divide who have reached out to me, to personally offer me their support and solidarity at this sensitive time for my family and I”
The 47-year-old Derrick Patterson was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison at Richmond Hill, Grenada, when he appeared in court on Monday on a charge of possession of cocaine. Patterson was nabbed by the Drug Squad in the area of Springs. He was charged with Trafficking of a Controlled Drug after a total of 2.325 kg of cocaine with a street value of $232,500 was found in his possession, last week.
The accused, who is an Evaluation Supervisor by profession, appeared before Chief Magistrate Tamara Gill at the St. George’s No.1 Magistrate’s Court and was represented by Guyanese attorney-at-law, Darshan Ramdhanny.

Patterson who was visiting the island at the time of his arrest was residing at Captain Harris Apartments in Grand Anse, St. George. Reports are that officers attached to the Drug Squad of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) intercepted a vehicle travelling in the vicinity of Springs on May 2, in which Patterson was the driver. The vehicle was searched and the drugs were found inside of a plastic bag. Patterson was due to reappear in court on May 15.