KD Knight defends decision to represent Floyd Grindley in wrongful dismissal suit

 

Queens Council and Opposition Senator K.D. Knight has defended his decision to represent former General Manager of Petrojam, Floyd Grindley, in a wrongful dismissal claim against the state-owned oil refinery.

 

Mr Grindley's management of Petrojam has been under scrutiny by two oversight committees chaired by members of the Opposition Peoples National Party (PNP).

 

It is reported that PNP members have been upset about Mr Knight's decision to represent Mr Grindley in the matter.

 

However, Mr Knight has said representing Mr. Grindley does not conflict with his Senate responsibilities. 

 

"I'm not representing the PNP. I don't caucus with the committee in the Lower House. I haven't discussed with them how they ought to approach what they are doing. They haven't briefed me on what they are doing and how they are doing it and why they are doing it... I'm in the Senate; I'm not a member of that committee. What Mr. Grindley tells me is that which I work on," he clarified. 

 

Mr Knight, who was speaking Friday on RJR's Hotline, was adamant that his decision to represent the former Petrojam General Manager is not political. 

 

Asked by Hotline host Emily Shields whether he thought that Mr Grindley had deliberately chosen his representation because of his connection to the PNP, given that "the issue surrounding him is highly political", Mr. Knight rejected the assertion, noting that Mr. Grindley's case "is not at all grounded in politics", but is "grounded in the treatment he received from Petrojam." 

 

Furthermore, he said Mr. Grindley's complaints also relate to public utterances, therefore, "It doesn't matter of the quarter from which the utterances come. If those were defamatory then they are defamatory." 

 

Mr. Knight said he has received a response from Petrojam's attorney to Mr. Grindley's $39 million claim. However, he did not give details of the response.