Congratulates Archibald…
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Having declared that it is almost impossible for anyone to perform worse than Pastor Leroy Benjamin did in his capacity of Supervisor of Elections (SoE), Mark Brantley of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) has congratulated Raphael Archibald for his recent appointment to that office.
Late Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 3), a press release was forwarded by the St. Kitts-Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), said to have emanated from Government House, indicated that Archibald was appointed to the post by the Governor General, His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert M. Sebastian, to take effect from October 2, 2012.
Wednesday evening – during his “On the Mark” radio programme aired on VON Radio – Brantley said he was made aware of the appointment after a media operative had forwarded the release to him.
Brantley congratulated Archibald on his appointment and admonished him to be guided by the law as he executes his duties and to hold good principles and virtues ever before him.
“I am to wish Mr. Archibald well. He now knows that this is a very critical role that he has been asked to fill and – as I have often put it – anybody, and I mean anybody, is going to be better than Leroy Benjamin. So he doesn’t have much to compare with in terms of starting off.
“But having said that, I am hopeful that he would do his best, that he would pay attention to the ethics that are required of that office, that he will pay attention to the law and the regulations that guide him and that we would start to see a pulling back of our electoral system from the absolute morass in which we have found it and in which it has been led by those who hitherto administered it. So I am keen and anxious that that be done and that be dealt with effectively.”
Premier of Nevis – the Hon. Joseph W. Parry – when contacted by this media house for a comment on Archibald’s appointment indicated that he had none to give.
Efforts were also made to contact Prime Minister Dr. Denzil. L. Douglas for comment but they were unsuccessful.
The Government House press release has informed that Archibald was appointed following consultation by the Governor General with PM Douglas, Premier Parry and Brantley.
Archibald’s predecessor demitted office in late August, sometime after claims of electoral fraud and bias were substantiated by both the High Court in Nevis and the Appellate Court of the Eastern Caribbean.
