Lower Kootenay Band Member Rob Louie Junior says he’s disappointed by Arbitrator Marko Vesely’s decision not to remove Chief Jason Louie from office.
He’s a spokesperson for Wayne Louie who initiated the Louie vs. Louie case to have the chief and Councillor Sandra Luke removed from office after awarding themselves $5,000 each as a bonus in 2009.
Rob Louie Junior feels “the arbitrator erred in his judgement” again after a reconsideration hearing in Creston in September.
“I am troubled at his conclusion,” says Rob Louie. “That even if we did meet the first requirement of securing the 30 petitioners in their reconfirmation, that the taking of $5,000, to use the Arbitrator’s words, is not enough reason to remove the Chief.”
Vesely did find Chief Jason Louie and Councillor Sandra Luke in breach of their oath of office, but found their conduct did not warrant removal from office as the payment was disclosed in the band’s financial statements.
Vesely sided with Chief Jason Louie’s lawyer, David Hughes, that the removal of both Chief and Councilor would be a “draconian measure.”
Rob Louie Junior says it’s not over and he and his supporters are considering their next steps.