CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - FOLLOWING weeks of public disclosures of possible challenges to the outcome of the December 12 Nevis Island Assembly Elections, the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) has formally filed two petitions.
According to a press statement from the Party, Jaedee Caines and Dr. Patricia Bartlette are challenging the results in Nevis One (St. Paul) and Nevis Two (St. John) Constituencies respectively - two of the five districts that were contested on the island.
The documents were signed on Tuesday (Jan. 10),and filed with the High Court of Justice of St. Christopher and Nevis (Nevis Circuit), in which one lists Ms. Caines as the petitioner and the Concerned Citizens Movement’s Spencer Brand, among others, as respondents, .
“I just want to say thanks to everyone who partnered to make this possible. I also want to thank everyone who encouraged me to move this matter forward. I have always felt that the December 12, 2022 Elections were not fair across the board, and based on a number of factors we are here today,” Caines was quoted as saying in the NRP’s statement.
Dr. Bartlette also filed an election petition.
The first-time candidate is challenging the results of the poll in Nevis Two (St. John’s). She stated that “...due to numerous irregularities and illegalities surrounding the conduct of the said poll, I moved on Friday, January 6th, 2023 to sign a petition which was filed with the court challenging the results of the Election”.
Dr. Bartlett noted that she stands on principles and is “demanding free and fair elections for our people and it is my view that we should never allow the institutions safeguarding our democracy to be manipulated”.
Both Caines and Dr. Bartlett did not disclose their evidence that highlights why they believe that there were concerns.
“I won’t comment on the specifics of the petition but I thought it necessary to let the people of Nevis - the people of St. Paul - know that their change agent is standing up for what is right!” Caines said.
The NRP and its leaders had raised a number of concerns since the staging of the Elections.
The Party recently held a silent protest to draw attention to discrepancies and irregularities that allegedly occurred.
“Based on what has been revealed subsequent to the Elections and before the Election Results were revealed, the Elections were not free and fair! There were a number of irregularities that would have contributed to much suspicion and mistrust. And the general sense is that the current Government, right now, did not win the Elections free and fair. And so we are asking that if we had free and fair elections, the outcome would be different,” Party Leader Dr. Janice Daniel-Hodge explained.
NRP’s Candidate Rohan Isles also made claims of irregularities during the Elections.
