ST. JOHNS, Antigua – HOURS after a judge overturned the 2009 election victories of three of its candidates, the governing United Progressive Party (UPP) has obtained a stay of execution to maintain the status quo.
UPP lawyers applied for the stay after Justice Louise Blenman declared yesterday (Mar. 31) that the election results of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, Education Minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro and Tourism Minister John Maginley were invalid.
In delivering the judgement, Blenman said the late start to the country’s March 12, 2009 General Election led to a number of persons being disenfranchised.
The ruling was the result of a challenge by the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP), which contended that there were electoral discrepancies and illegalities in the areas contested by those candidates. A fourth challenge against Barbudan Minister Trevor Walker was unsuccessful.
The ALP has until April 16 to challenge the stay of execution granted by Justice David Harris. UPP counsel has already indicated that the government would ask for a permanent stay in its attempts to appeal Blenman’s verdict.
In the interim, PM Spencer and his UPP colleagues have retained their positions, with Attorney-General Justin Simon rushing to dispel rumours that a “constitutional crisis” had been created.
“I have advised the Hon. Prime Minister to be in his office tomorrow (Apr. 1), as well as Hon. Jacqui Quinn and Hon. John Maginley. Cabinet will also be meeting. It will be business as usual with an understanding that there is a certain process that must be followed in terms of the application of stay and the filing of the appeal.
“The country will be running because there cannot be a void in respect of the governance of the country. It cannot be accepted either legally or politically,” Simon told reporters outside the Antigua High Court yesterday afternoon.
ALP supporters rejoiced in the streets following the ruling and planned to picket outside Spencer’s office today. ALP Leader Lester Bird said he would file a constitutional motion challenging the Prime Minister’s position.
In an interview with The Antigua Sun, ALP chairman Gaston Browne expressed his party’s jubilation and optimism in eventually reclaiming the government.
“This is a victory for the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and you can rest assured that in a matter of weeks or perhaps a few months the Antigua Labour Party will be in the governance of this country, and we will restore peace and prosperity to all Antiguans and Barbudans.
“Evidently the Lord has been on our side and so we will form the government of this country shortly,” Browne said.
With yesterday’s ruling, the UPP (including Walker) and ALP each control seven of the nation’s 17 parliamentary seats, with the other three in question until the legal process has played out.
