CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – DEPUTY LEADER of the Concerned Citizen’s Movement (CCM), the Hon. Mark Brantley this morning (Oct. 15) said that criminal complaints are currently being filed against six individuals, including a female from St. Kitts, for illegally registering to vote in the Parish of St. John’s during the July 2011 Nevis Local Elections.
Brantley was at the time speaking on behalf of his party’s Leader, the Hon. Vance Amory, at a Press Conference held at CCM’s Headquarters in the Springates Building on Government Road, Nevis.
In his opening remarks, Brantley reminded members of the press of his party’s intention, while naming the individuals against whom charges would be made.
“Last week I advised on the intention of the CCM to file criminal charges against individuals who we say have illegally registered to vote in St. Johns.
“The criminal complaints currently being filed name Sigrid Lorraine Hamilton of Buckley’s in St. Kitts who on the 29th day of August, 2012 registered her name as a voter in Prospect, St. John’s, Nevis; Peter Joseph James and Ohmel Eugenie James, husband and wife, both of Colquhoun’s Estate, Nevis, who on the 29th day of August, 2012 registered their names as voters in Brown Hill, St. Johns, Nevis; Anslem Colin Caines of Jessups Village, Nevis, who on 29th August, 2012 registered his name as a voter in Cane Garden, St. Johns, Nevis; Barbara Leona Duporte Hardtman of Hanley’s Road, Gingerland, Nevis, who on 29th August 2012 registered her name as a Voter in Brown Hill, St. Johns, Nevis; and Wayne Ayinde Hanley of Jessups Village, Nevis, who on 31st August, 2012 registered his name as a voter in Brown Hill, St. John’s, Nevis; all contrary to sections 50(1)(c) and 50(3) of the National Assembly Elections Act, in that they wilfully made claims to be registered in St. John’s when they all knew that they do not reside there and that they made false statements to registration officials for purpose of registering where they do not reside.”
Brantley noted that the penalty for violating the National Assembly Elections Act have since increased to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of EC$30 000.
He declared that the CCM intends to file other criminal complaints very shortly and would continue to do so, as well as share the results of its investigations with the Police Commissioner for his action against anyone found to be engaging in registering where they do not reside.
“I wish to make it clear that the names listed above were all objected to already and shown not to be resident at all in St. John’s, and accordingly the objections were upheld by the registration officer. None of them appealed those decisions but rather went back into the electoral office on the dates mentioned and simply registered again in St. John’s, where they and we know they do not reside and the findings of the registration officer shows they do not reside,” Brantley added.
Brantley stated that his party has no pleasure in proceeding with the criminal charges, but “these flagrant and willful violations of the electoral law have to stop”.
He noted that the CCM will continue to encourage all citizens of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to do what is right and not to permit any party or political group to corrupt and cause them to commit criminal offences.
“When all is said and done,” he added, “it is you and not the politicians who will have to face the harsh penalties of the law.”
The July 11, 2011 Nevis General Elections had resulted in the Nevis Reformation Party winning three of the five seats on that island, with Brantley losing his seat to former Deputy Premier Hensley Daniel by a mere 14 votes.
Subsequently, Brantley filed an election petition, charging that the outcome of the poll was affected by widespread irregularities, and on March 21, 2012 Justice Lionel Jones ruled in his favour by declaring the election null and void.
This result led to an appeal by Daniel and, on Monday, August 27, 2012, the Justices of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court.
