BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Concerned Citizens Movement’s (CCM) request for an Injunction to bar Premier Joseph Parry and Hensley Daniel from contesting the fast-approaching local elections on Nevis was denied by the Nevis High Court this morning (Jan. 18).
Papers were filed on Monday (Jan. 14) by the CCM’s Keith Scarborough and Mark Brantley seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the two Nevis Reformation Party candidates.
The case was heard yesterday and His Lordship Justice John Benjamin reserved his decision until today.
After the decision was handed down, Chairman of the CCM Stedmond Tross confirmed that the political party’s application for an injunction was dismissed.
Attempts made to contact both Brantley and Parry for a comment were unsuccessful at press time.
Legal counsel for Parry and Daniel – Dr. Henry Browne – explained the grounds upon which His Lordship made his ruling.
“With reference to the judgment, I think the learned trial judge is wise and right. The learned trial judge actually found three things. (He) is doubtful about his jurisdiction to entertain these matters. But even if he were seized of jurisdiction, he is satisfied that neither Mr. Parry nor Mr. Daniel has been shown to be guilty of anything, that there is no evidence any criminal offence was committed by any of them, and they were entitled to be nominated and are entitled to contest the elections for Tuesday of next week. He made no order as to costs given the important public interest in this matter and that it affects the state.”
Commenting on the nature of the CCM’s applications, Dr. Browne expressed that they “were totally misconceived and emanated out of unbridled ambition to run a country without going to the polls”.
And so the people of Nevis head to the polls in four days to elect those individuals whom they wish to manage the affairs of the island for the next five years.
Constituency Number One (St. Paul’s) is being contested by CCM’s Spencer Brand and NRP’s Robelto Hector; Constituency Number Two (St. John’s) by CCM’s Brantley and NRP’s Daniel; and in Constituency Number Three (St. George), CCM’s Leader Vance Amory would do ballot battle against Patricia Hanley.
Attorney-General the Hon. Patrice Nisbett of the NRP and CCM’s Alexis Jeffers would be vying to represent the people of Constituency Number Four (St. James) in the Nevis Island Administration.
And in Constituency Number Five (St. Thomas), Premier Parry of the NRP and CCM’s Keith Scarborough would be in contest.
