BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 22nd 2009 (CUOPM) – New allegations of improper motive and bias from the platform of the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) leveled at the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC) are just “sound bites,” said lead Counsel for the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Anthony Astaphan on Friday.
He said that the mantra of improper motive and bias being articulated is just ‘sound bites,’ which have been rejected in an earlier ruling by High Court Judge His Lordship Errol Thomas in the recent case brought against the Constituency Boundaries Commission by Political Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Mr. Lindsay Grant and the Hon. Shawn K. Richards.
“These allegations of ‘bias, motive and conspiracy, bad faith and subversion of the rule of law and anti democratic practices and violation of fundamental rights,’ are wonderfully sounding sound bites. I just want to remind that every single one of these allegations were completely rejected by the judge (Justice Errol Thomas) and it is important that we also remember as well that the judge accepted the evidence of the Attorney General and the Constituency Boundaries Commission, that the People’s Action Movement by their deliberate boycotting of the electoral reform process that started in 2006 and their failure to participate had in fact abdicated, wave, repudiated any right that they may have had although he say that they had none to complain about the process,” said Astaphan in a statement.
He pointed out that the process under the Constitution must be performed and the judge having made that very clear to the People’s Action Movement.
“It is a matter of deep regret that we now find members of Constituency Boundaries Commission in Nevis have seen it fit mistakenly, wrongly and in a most misconceived way, sought to resign in the hope and expectations it would lead to the Constituency Boundaries Commission being improperly constituted,” said Astaphan.
He opined that the provisions of Section 49 (4) of the St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution makes it clear that the Commission can continue its work once there is a majority despite vacancies and that once a resignation takes effect on delivery to the Governor General, the resignations became effective and therefore there were vacancies in the Constituency Boundaries Commission.
“I think the time has come for us to begin to point fingers at the behaviour of those who have sought to frustrate the process rather than those who have tried to facilitate the process,” said Mr. Astaphan.
