BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PREMIER of Nevis Joseph Parry – who was also one of the respondents in the recent election petition case – has assured his government which was elected on July 11, 2011 is very much intact and actively governing the affairs of Nevis.
The affirmation was given yesterday (Mar. 21) following the judgment handed down by His Lordship Justice Lionel Jones at the Nevis Circuit Court.
A portion of Justice Jones’ decision nullified the election of Deputy Premier and Minister of Culture Hensley Daniel, which means that a by-election would have had to be called within 90 days of the handing down of the decision.
However, according to Premier Parry, he gave his legal counsel specific instructions to file an appeal against certain portions of His Lordship’s ruling; an action which other respondents in the case have also taken.
He explained that a stay of execution of the High Court’s judgment was applied for. Thus, the nullification of Daniel’s election by His Lordship Jones would not take effect until the case is disposed of at the appellate level.
“The appeal has already been filed and is now in the hands of the Court. The other Respondents in this case have also filed appeals against the Judge’s Decision. In addition to these appeals, Mr. Daniel has instructed his lawyer, Henry Browne, and I have also instructed my lawyer, Oral Martin, to file the necessary documents to stay. That is…to put a halt to the Decision of the Judge until the appeals are heard. This means that my Government remains firmly in place and the rule of law will be upheld.”
Parry indicated that he has also instructed his counsel to appeal against the portion of Justice Jones’ decision which indicated that Brantley’s Constitutional right to freedom of expression was breached because the Nevis News Cast failed to give coverage to political meetings held by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM).
Premier Parry expressed his confidence that the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) would quash Justice Jones’ decision.
“We are very confident that the Appeal Court will overturn the order of Mr. Justice Jones in which he declared the election of Mr. Daniel to be null and void. Mr. Daniel remains the Deputy Premier in the Nevis Island Administration and remains fully in charge of his Ministry.”
Fully aware that this situation has potentially destabilising effects, the Premier entreated Nevisians of all political persuasions “to continue going about our lives peacefully and in a manner that will provide an example to the rest of the Caribbean and the world.
“We are a law abiding people and we must continue to demonstrate this. We expect that the Court of Appeal will deal with this matter expeditiously and we should all await the outcome of the appeals”.
