Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson says that his younger brother, Derrick Patterson who is facing drug charges in Grenada would have to take full responsibility for his actions.

In a statement on his Facebook page the Minister noted that his brother is a matured adult of 47 years and must bear full responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

Patterson went on to assure that as a Minister of Government he will not attempt to influence the outcome of the proceedings and denounced those who have attempted to gain political points from the situation.

“Members of my family were shocked to learn of Derrick’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,” Patterson said, adding that neither he nor any other member of my family can take responsibility for Derrick’s own, deliberate actions.

The Minister went on to say that while the family holds out hope that there may have been a mistake, his brother 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,” he stressed.

Speaking directly to those who have attempted to implicate him in his brother’s legal troubles, Patterson assured the Guyanese public that he has not and will not attempt to influence the outcome of these serious allegations made against his 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,” he posited adding he will play no part in contributing to efforts to exploit this matter to score political points.

Such attempts he argued “are nothing more than an attempt to detract attention from the work this government has been doing to develop a prosperous Guyana”.

He added  that he does 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 3 years on behalf of the people of Guyana – planning and building for the bright future awaiting them,” the Minister stressed.

A report from Grenadian News Agency, the New Today indicated that Derrick Patterson, 47,  a valuation supervisor was charged on Monday with trafficking of a controlled drug after a total of 2.325 kg of cocaine was allegedly found in his possession last week. The drug carries a street value of EC$232,500.

Patterson appeared before Chief Magistrate Tamara Gill at the St. George’s No.1 Magistrate’s Court where the charge was read to him. He was represented by Guyanese attorney-at-law, Darshan Ramdhani.

At the time of his arrest, the New Today said that Patterson, who was visiting the island, was residing at Captain Harris Apartments in Grand Anse, St. George’s.

“The New Today understands 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 report stated.

A search was conducted on the vehicle during which the drugs were discovered inside a plastic bag.

Patterson was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison at Richmond Hill. He was scheduled to reappear in court yesterday.

He is the second Guyanese to be charged in Grenada in recent weeks. Just last Tuesday, 70-year-old Guyanese national, Haniff Bacchus, a retired construction worker who was allegedly found with a quantity of cocaine hidden in his motorized wheelchair at the Maurice Bishop International Airport, Grenada was also charged and remanded to prison.

Bacchus was accused of having in his possession 2.5 kilograms of cocaine. He was denied bail and also remanded to the Richmond Hill prison until May 18.