THE court hearing for the assessment of damages to be paid out to 11-year-old Kristi Charles by the Ministry of Education was yesterday adjourned until next Friday.

During a hearing of the matter in the Supreme Court before high court judge, Justice Bryan Sykes, Government attorneys made a request for the matter to be re-scheduled as they wanted to submit affidavits in the matter. Justice Sykes later adjourned the matter until June 20.

Justice Sykes ruled in April this year that the Ministry of Education erred when it opted not to recommend Charles to the Scotiabank Foundation as the top female performer in the 2007 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), following allegations that she had been exposed to the exam papers at a homework centre she attended prior to sitting the test.
Sykes further ruled that the ministry award punitive damages to Charles because of the error.

Charles was Thursday awarded a special scholarship, valued at $205,000 per annum for seven years, by the Ministry of Education.

'Minister acted unlawfully in funeral home issue'

THE Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the former minister of local government and environment, Dean Peart, acted unlawfully when he issued a stop order on all burials at the Delapenha's Royale Rest Funeral Home in 2006.

Justice Ingrid Mangatal, ruled that Peart misconstrued and acted outside of his powers under Section 32 of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act in ordering the stop order, therefore making it illegal.

Lead attorney for Delapenha's Funeral Home, Jacqueline Sammuels-Brown subsequently stated that she will be seeking to recover damages from the Government for losses caused by the stop order.