BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HEARINGS in the judicial review of the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC) have been adjourned until next week as the Secretary of the Commission is ascertaining the accuracy of the transcripts of the Commission’s meetings.
Upon receiving the minutes of a November 11 CBC meeting, the claimants in the matter, Hon. Mark Brantley, leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary representative of the Concerned Citizen’s Movement (CCM), and Hon. Shawn Richards, lone Parliamentarian for the People’s Action Movement (PAM), had cited a number of inconsistencies and therefore requested the meeting’s transcripts.
Lawyers representing the government in the matter agreed to prepare the transcripts and have them delivered by 7:00 last night (Dec. 3). However, the transcripts were presented to the claimants this morning (Dec. 4), and a two-hour adjournment was sought to allow the lawyers representing the two opposition Parliamentarians time to examine them. There was some concern that the transcripts provided were not signed and certified and legal counsel Constance Mitcham raised that to the Court before adjournment.
In this afternoon’s court session, Counsel representing the CBC Dr. Henry Browne explained that the Commission’s Secretary, Gail Cranstoun, who had been present at all of its six meetings, would be verifying that the transcript of that meeting accurately reflected what transpired according to the audiotapes. He asked for an adjournment until Monday in order for the accuracy of the transcripts to be ascertained.
The accurate transcript is necessary for the claimants to examine before their witness, former CBC member Hon. Vance Amory, takes the stand to be cross-examined.
The discussions carried out in the November 11 meeting are believed to contain information that would clarify the validity of two of the claimants’ contentions; namely a mention of the CBC needing to complete its work by December 16 and that there would be recommended boundary changes on the island of Nevis.
There have been a number of questions circulating in relation to who was responsible for transcribing the audiotapes of the meetings, but at this time SKNVibes has been unable to verify the names of the individuals.
Court proceedings continue on Monday 7, 2009 at 10:00 A.M.
