Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, UWP representative Titus Preville questioned whether the Government had disclosed the full reasons for placing Frederick on leave from his ministerial duties.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre previously said the decision was intended to ensure transparency and prevent any perception that Frederick could influence the process involving the SSDF. He also stressed that the administrative measure should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
The Opposition, however, maintains that several important questions remain unanswered, including the nature and scope of the process underway at the SSDF, who is directing it and when its findings will be made public.
Preville called on the Prime Minister to establish a formal investigation led by individuals with the necessary experience, independence and capacity.
The UWP also wants the investigation’s terms of reference—particularly its scope—to be published. It proposed that both the Government and the Leader of the Opposition participate in determining those terms.
“The investigation should not be conducted in secret,” Preville said, according to the party’s presentation.
The Opposition further called for the SSDF’s Executive Director and board members to step aside for the duration of the investigation.
Preville argued that if Frederick was removed temporarily to prevent any perception of ministerial interference, the same principle should apply to officials responsible for managing and overseeing the agency.
The Government has not suggested that Frederick’s administrative leave establishes wrongdoing. A separate police investigation involving the minister was previously concluded after investigators said the allegation under examination could not be sustained. The precise subject of that allegation was not publicly disclosed, and no official connection between it and the SSDF has been established.
Frederick will not attend Cabinet meetings or perform his ministerial functions while on leave. Shawn Edward has assumed responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal, while Stephenson King is overseeing Local Government.
Frederick remains the parliamentary representative for Castries Central.
The controversy is likely to keep attention focused on the SSDF’s governance, financial reporting and accountability arrangements. The agency administers programmes intended to assist vulnerable households and communities, making confidence in its operations a matter of significant public interest.
The UWP said it would continue pressing the Government for a transparent process and the publication of its eventual findings.