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Posted: Tuesday 13 June, 2017 at 10:08 AM

AG Byron finalizing Electoral Reform submissions to Cabinet

The Hon. Vincent Byron Jr.
By: Jermine Abel, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE recent decision by the Court to dismiss a case brought against Nigerian and Commonwealth students voting in the Federation has not deter the Attorney-General from moving ahead with Electoral Reform. 

     

    It was back in 2014 that the law office of Grant and Powell challenged the legality of students from Nigeria and, by extension, the Commonwealth voting when they were not deemed residents but students.
     
    The law firm went further to have the names of all students struck off the voters’ list ahead of the 2015 General Elections.
     
    Lawyer for the defendants Sylvester Anthony told SKNVibes recently that the decision “was victory for democracy”.
     
    He explained that the decision meant “that Commonwealth citizens and Commonwealth students who are in St. Kitts and Nevis are entitled to be registered and to vote in our elections once they have met the residence and domicile requirements provided for in the Elections legislation”.
     
    When asked by SKNVibes if the decision would have any impact on plans the Government has in relating to the voting system, Attorney-General Hon. Vincent Byron Jr. said he does not want to jump ahead of time in relation to Electoral Reform.
     
    “Well, I don’t want to go ahead of my submissions to Cabinet, because I am in the process of finalizing from our team the consultation process to make recommendations to Cabinet before we would go into retreat and determine what we do in coming to the people.”
     
    Byron disclosed that there would be changes in terms of how they view questions on Commonwealth citizens voting in the Federation, pointing out that “as to the final form, I would not want to go ahead of myself”.
     
    He noted that that is one of the issues the Government has to address, along with a number of others, including voters registering outside their place of residence.
     
    “Clearly, the primary issue that we have to address is where people have not been registering to vote where they reside. And so, that being the basis, that would be a key factor to be addressed. I can say that.
     
    “People have been concerned about that for years, and that is something that needs fixing. But I would want to get the support of my Cabinet colleagues before I make any sort of definitive direction as to where we go.”
     
    The Government would want to have a system employed for checking on persons to ensure that they register where they live, Byron said.
     
    This could be done through the enumeration and re-registration process that is being bandied by the Government, the AG noted.
     
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