2 more quit PIB council
Local band now has 5 council vacancies
The chief of the Penticton Indian Band remains silent about two more defections from council.
Band councillors Jonathan Kruger, a former chief, and Tim Lezard both submitted separate letters of resignation this week, leaving five vacancies.
With the recent departures of Naomi Gabriel, Denise Lecoy and Joseph Pierre, it leaves band council without a quorum. Calls made to the band office on Thursday and its interim administrator, Tiffany Eneas, were answered by band spokesperson Dawn Russell.
“The PIB administration is currently still and continuing to provide the Penticton Indian Band community with programs and services, and all other questions related to the political environment can be addressed to Chief Chad Eneas,” Russell said in a brief statement, providing a personal cell phone number for the chief.
At press time, Chad Eneas did not return calls to The Herald and has not spoken with other news agencies.
The four remaining members of band council are Eneas, Clint George, Suzanne Johnson and Elliott Tonasket. The PIB’s model is one chief plus eight elected councillors. Russell would not speculate on the date of a byelection or if another body would be brought in under advisement. She again directed all “political” questions to Chad Eneas.
Kruger, who was defeated by Eneas in the 2016 election but later won a seat on council, said he’s disappointed with the direction the band has taken.
“The turmoil, dissension and adversity we are currently experiencing, has become burdensome to us all and I am not prepared to be an obstacle whether perceived or real to our leadership and community,” Kruger wrote in a letter dated Sept. 5.
“The decision-making process of the current council is ambiguous and inconsistent. I am frustrated by the current council’s indecisiveness and unmotivated approach to dealing with council agenda items and issues at council table. Most items are getting tabled and we never revisit the issue again,” Kruger wrote.
“The Chief has ignited division and segregation of council members and this has resulted in an unhealthy division or split in the community that is serious and will be very challenging to repair and resolve. It hurts me to see the community so divided. I am concerned about the well-being of our membership and the future of our community.”
Kruger has also sought legal advice, claiming Eneas has defamed him publicly.
A series of photos published from the recent groundbreaking of the new Nissan dealership on band land included Kruger and other dignitaries digging shovels in the ground with Eneas at one side with his hands in his pockets, appearing disinterested.
As a result of the turmoil, an unnamed group of band members called in August for the elected leaders to submit to a confidence vote. It’s unclear what resulted from that request.