No happy ending to lawsuit

Photo: PIB

Chief and council following election

The Penticton Indian Band’s lawsuit against six former councillors has concluded, but a fissure remains within the community.

The ex-councillors signed over their shares on the PIB Development Corp. on Oct. 2, according to court documents related to the Sept. 21 lawsuit.

“I was surprised that it came to a lawsuit. It didn’t have to go this far, it didn’t have to go this way,” said defendant Dolly Kruger on Tuesday.

The Penticton Indian Band’s six businesses are owned by the PIB Development Corp., which is controlled by the nine-member Chief and Council with two shares each. Typically, those shares are transferred to the new council after each election.

But in July, council passed a resolution transferring all shares to Chief Chad Eneas while a new management structure was developed.

Four of the defendants that were voted out of office, and two that were reelected, refused to transfer the shares, according to the lawsuit. That brought the band businesses to a halt, putting multiple business deals at risk.

“I for one am definitely not against economic development for our people. I was definitely in support of all the developments that are happening,” Kruger said. “So when a statement comes out saying we are holding up development, well that's just not true.”

Kruger has been acting as a spokeswoman for a group that has been publicly calling for a new election of Chief and Council since August.

“If there is no whole new election for chief and council, I don’t see it getting any better — sorry to say that — but I don’t see it getting any better with this current group,” she said. “It should be put to the people.”

Five PIB councillors, including former Chief Jonathan Kruger, have stepped down since the Nov. 2016 election. Nominations for the byelection to fill those seats will open Wednesday, with voting day on Nov. 22.

Dolly Kruger says she will be running.

Phone calls Tuesday to Chief Chad Eneas were sent straight to voicemail.