Prime Minster Dr. Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer's statement from last night in full
Fellow Antiguans, Barbudans and Residents.
Greetings to you all.
The judgment of the Court of Appeal on the two appeals filed by the Gaston Browne's Antigua Labour Party were, as had been expected, handed down this morning in Tortola, where the Court is currently sitting for the week.
The Antigua Labour Party’s appeal sought to have the Court of Appeal overturn the respective rulings of the High Court which had previously dismissed the legal challenges filed by the Antigua Labour Party.
In the Re-registration case, the Labour Party had challenged the constitutionality of The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2010, and claimed that the re-registration process had retrospective effect and that the Act infringed the Constitution; further, that the Supervisor of Elections had been illegally stripped of her duties as Chief Registration Officer during the registration process, and that the Chairman of the Commission’s actions had been infected with bias. That appeal was dismissed in its entirity.
In the other appeal the Labour Party challenged the Report of the Constituencies Boundaries Commission claiming gerrymandering, bias by the Chairman, a failure by the Commission to adequately consult, and a failure by the judge to properly consider the evidence and the law. That appeal was allowed only on the ground that the public consultation was inadequate; all the other grounds of appeal were dismissed.
My dear people, it was instructive to note that, contrary to the ALP’s claims, the court did not find any evidence of gerrymandering which was a major issue raised by Gaston Browne’s opposition Party
Let me quote for your benefit the section of the ruling which alluded to this aspect of the challenge. It reads as follows:
“On the facts of the case, gerrymandering was clearly not made out. The evidence fell short of establishing with clarity and certainty, that the ALP votes have been diluted to the advantage of the UPP. It went on to state that: “Further, there was no evidence which amounted prima facie, let alone established, that the Commission in fact set about re-drawing the constituency boundaries in order to negatively impact the ALP’s chances and positively impact the UPP’s chances or vice versa.
Fellow Antiguans and Barbudans, I will be failing in my duty if I do not admit that I am aware that the population at large is disappointed that the ruling was not handed down prior to the automatic dissolution of the Parliament as had been expected. But in the final analysis, we have no choice but to accept that the delay may have been as a result of exigencies over which the Court had little or no control.
Unfortunately, in the view of many of my follow citizens the timing left in its wake, more questions than it provided answers.
So, now that the uncertainties which had gripped the nation over these issues have come to an end, I urge all Antiguans and Barbudans to graciously and magnanimously accept the ruling of the Court in the spirit in which they have been handed down and to carry on with your normal daily responsibilities with a renewed level of confidence and assurance that all the arms of Government are working together in the pursuance of their respective mission and objectives.
Let us all now allow the Electoral Commission to discharge its duties and responsibilities in an atmosphere of peace, calm and objectivity as we prepare for the General Elections which are to be held shortly.
In this regard, now that the way has been cleared, you can expect me to name the date for the 2014 General Elections as soon as I consider it to be in the best interest of the nation to do so.
With respect to the Registration or Re-registration of voters, you have been advised in a previous address that the Electoral Commission must complete the full exercise including hearing and determining claims and objections and must publish thereafter a full list of the registered electors in each constituency before I can responsibly call the election date.
I have been advised that this is still a work in progress and that publication of the full list of registered electors in all constituencies is imminent.
I had also advised the population at large that, in addition I must be satisfied that the Electoral Commission is in a state of readiness which includes the issuance of the required voter ID cards.
The Commission can now fully concentrate on these two tasks, now that the Court of Appeal judgments have spoken unequivocally to the correctness of the re-registration process, and the proposed changes to the boundaries.
Fellow Antiguans, Barbudans and Residents,
I call upon all parties involved in or participating in the election process as well as all citizens and residents to exercise maturity and good judgment as the contending political parties heighten their election campaigns, and state, that it is in the best interest of Antigua and Barbuda to let good sense prevail in all our undertakings.
Questions have recently surfaced of the role of the executive now that parliament has been dissolved. The constitution speaks clearly to that matter.
During the intervening period between the dissolution of Parliament and the appointment of a new Government, the affairs of the State will continue to be administered by the Prime Minister and the current Ministers of Government in their respective capacities. We are committed to do so with no less a level of diligence and quality of responsibility than we have been delivering prior to the dissolution of the Parliament. Of this, you can be fully assured.
I wish to thank all of you very sincerely for the patience and understanding which were displayed while we all awaited the ruling of the Court of Appeal and I look forward to the same level of comportment and decorum in the days ahead.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
May Almighty God continue to bless you all and to bless the wonderful Nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
Antigua News