BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CLAIMANT in the ongoing constituency boundaries case Hon. Shawn Richards took the stand yesterday afternoon (Aug. 17) and was subjected to rounds of questioning and cross-examination by both sides in the matter.
Richards, the lone parliamentarian for the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) party, was the original applicant in the court proceedings and sought, by way of a Court order, to prohibit any immediate boundary changes proposed by the Constituency Boundary Commission (CBC).
He subsequently filed a number of sworn affidavits giving evidence to support his arguments that the proposed boundary changes put forward by the CBC report were not done in accordance with the rule of natural justice.
While on the stand, Richards was questioned by the Senior Counsel representing the CBC in the matter, Anthony Astaphan.
Astaphan asked questions regarding the changes made to Constituency Number Five, which Richards currently represents. He specifically enquired into the relative size of the constituency and the decline in the population there.
Richards explained that only Half Way Tree from Constituency Four would be added to his constituency, noting that the affected polling division does not take into consideration voters from Godwin Ghaut and Conyers to be part of the realignment.
While he admitted he did not fully assess data from the last two population studies, Richards said he does not believe that the population of his constituency has been on the decline over the last two decades.
Astaphan then shifted his questions to address what he deems to be PAM’s “political boycott” of the electoral reform process. He referenced the recommendation for constituency boundary realignment made in the Commonwealth Assessment Report, which was compiled by election observers shortly after the 2004 General Elections.
Richards’ immediate response was that the constituency boundaries were to be changed in a “free and fair manner”, which he did not believe the proposed CBC changes effectively do.
Addressing his party’s apparent absence in the electoral reform process, Richards said that statements allegedly made by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor shortly after the last General Elections (October 2004) had indicated that “the boundaries will be changed in my constituency and will be altered so as to ensure that I’m not re-elected to Parliament”.
“Condor is the Chairperson of that particular committee. So, already he has expressed bias towards it and I, therefore, was uncomfortable attending any committee meeting chaired by Mr. Condor,” Richards responded.
Further debate took place when Astaphan questioned PAM’s position, stated in its policy paper, that the party would not participate in the electoral reform process until a revised voters list is compiled.
The hearing is expected to continue this morning with PAM’s Leader Lindsay Grant taking the stand to be cross-examined.
