A legal dispute between the Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation and six former band councillors appears to be all wrapped up.

The PIBDC filed a lawsuit against former councillors Joseph Pierre, Clint Gabriel, Kevin Gabriel, Travis James Kruger and Dolly Catharine Kruger, as well as former chief Jonathan Kruger in late September, after the six failed to pass on their shares in the PIBDC.

Though the eight councillors and the chief each typically have held a share in the Penticton Indian Band香蕉视频直播檚 corporation, chief and council approved a motion this year to hand off all shares to Chief Chad Eneas, who would hold on to the shares while the community considers another way to divvy up the shares.

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But the six former councillors failed to pass on their shares by late September, and by the end of summer, each of them had either been voted out in last year香蕉视频直播檚 election or resigned from their position.

However, court documents filed on Oct. 2 indicated all parties had signed the transfer of their shares to the PIBDC.

Requests for comment from the PIBDC on went unanswered on Friday, but CEO Ted Burton sent a statement to the Western News on Tuesday.

香蕉视频直播淲e are pleased to be moving together with our band members to provide the community with job opportunities, economic development and sustainable growth,香蕉视频直播� the statement reads.

香蕉视频直播淭he PIBDC is open to the dynamic opportunities that are before us and look forward to working with the business community in the evolvement of the area. While the matters are still yet to be closed and filed in the B.C. Supreme Court, it would be premature to comment further at this time.香蕉视频直播�

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With that said, Jonathan Kruger told the Western News in an interview with the signing of share transfers, the litigation will be ending.

香蕉视频直播淲e all signed over the shares. I want to state clearly that this all could have been avoided in January if council just accepted the shares,香蕉视频直播� Kruger said. 香蕉视频直播淚t did snowball out of control. There were other things that came up.香蕉视频直播�

Kruger said the former councillors did attempt to sign shares over in the past, but because chief and council was leaning toward a resolution passed later on this year that would mandate all shares go to Eneas, that never occurred.

And when councillors began resigning and a non-confidence issue came up, Kruger said there were distractions from that process.

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But when the lawsuit came up on Sept. 21, Kruger said he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 made aware of it.

香蕉视频直播淚 was shocked and upset that we find out through the media that we香蕉视频直播檙e getting sued over these issues that could have been avoided in January, like I said, and then having to deal with that, and to make us look like we were stalling business or hurting the business. I would never do that,香蕉视频直播� Kruger said.

Prior to his resignation, Kruger said a resolution came up that he thought was productive: Eneas reportedly agreed to rescind the resolution that called for all shares to be transferred to him.

香蕉视频直播淪o we all felt pretty good about that, and we did have a shareholders meeting and following the words that were held at the community meeting on August 30, but then we find out in the newspaper that we were sued,香蕉视频直播� he said.

He added he has never seen someone 香蕉视频直播渄odge香蕉视频直播� a motion that was put on the floor, referring to the PIB claiming there is no legal basis for a non-confidence motion.

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A non-confidence motion has come up once before, Kruger said, adding that was before his time. But with this summer香蕉视频直播檚 motion, he said he didn香蕉视频直播檛 officially take a side on the non-confidence matter.

香蕉视频直播淚 got up in front of the people and said that whatever the people want, I will stand behind,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Kruger said he knows 香蕉视频直播渇or a fact香蕉视频直播� that the PIB requires five people for a quorum 香蕉视频直播� the legal minimum number of elected officials to run governance 香蕉视频直播� despite the band香蕉视频直播檚 official legal opinions that it published showing

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 trust issues, obviously. I香蕉视频直播檓 hoping that we can move past that and actually work for the people. That香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e there for. I can香蕉视频直播檛 be around that if we香蕉视频直播檙e not there working for the people,香蕉视频直播� Kruger said. 香蕉视频直播淪o I decided to join the people, and that香蕉视频直播檚 why I resigned.香蕉视频直播�

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But when it comes time to fill the five vacant spots on council, opened by five resignations, including Kruger香蕉视频直播檚, he said he would not be seeking re-election 香蕉视频直播� though he will participate in band meetings.

香蕉视频直播淚 did the best I could. I香蕉视频直播檓 really proud of the leadership that I worked with in the past ,and we香蕉视频直播檝e come so far, and we香蕉视频直播檝e done so many great things together for our community, and I think we left a really amazing legacy,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 hope that it continues, but I香蕉视频直播檓 not interested in coming back in politics.香蕉视频直播�

All of that said, Kruger said he believes everyone in the community has the betterment of the PIB at heart, even if they disagree with how to do that.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we need to do some healing, and I think we need the right people in there maybe to start that,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 want to be an obstacle of all the hurt in our community. I don香蕉视频直播檛 understand it, but I do feel it, and I just want us to keep moving forward.香蕉视频直播�

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dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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