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A court ruling is expected in about two weeks.
A court ruling is expected in about two weeks.
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The New Democratic Party (NDP) will know in about two weeks if the two petitions it filed contesting the results of the Dec. 9 general elections will go to trial.

The court on Friday heard arguments from lawyers for the NDP and the government.

High Court judge Justice Brian Cottle on Friday reserved judgement in a case in which the government is asking that the petitions be thrown out.

Kay Bacchus-Browne, a lawyer for the NDP, told iWitness News on Monday that some cases were served on the NDP on Friday, moments before the court hearing.

“… so we requested some time to read them and respond,” she said, adding that the judge gave the NDP’s legal team a week, and the government’s side a further three days to respond to the NDP’s response.

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“So, the judgment, I anticipate, would not come before two weeks, at least.”

Bacchus-Browne said that the cases filed on Friday concern the matter that is before the court.

She described the government’s argument as being “a technical point that has nothing to do with the merit of our case.

“They are saying that the security which we put up was flawed, in that those who signed as securities did not sign the form in the right manner.

“It is a highly technical point, as I said — had nothing to so with the merit of the petitions,” Bacchus-Browne told iWitness News.

Petitioners are required to post a bond valued EC$5,000.

Bacchus-Browne said that the other side is “saying that the bond was not entered into properly”.

She commented:

“And this is a bond which was vetted by the Registrar, perfect by the registrar and signed in front of the registrar and accepted by the registrar along with the vehicle licence for the security, those who sign as security as proof that they have value up to $5,000.”

In the petitions, the NDP is asking the court to overturn the results of the elections in Central Leeward and North Windward.

Electoral officials say that the ruling Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) Montgomery Daniel retained the North Windward seat, defeating the NDP’s Lauron Baptiste, 2,713 votes to 2,184.

Sir Louis Straker of the ULP also won Central Leeward, amassing 2,487 votes compared to the NDP’s Ben Exeter’s 2,184.

The ULP won the elections and a fourth term in office by a single seat – winning eight of the 15 parliamentary seats while the remaining seven went to the NDP.

4 replies on “NDP’s election petitions dangle on a technicality”

    1. I agree, It may reach the courts in 4 years and if the NDP wins, that should occur in about the year 2032.
      I would not agree that the NDP is incompetent. It is just the ruling party can find anything to dominate and even before the starting bell rings, the ULP has a 5 to 1 advantage.
      Since the present governing party has vast control of the courts. The NDP stands little chance. The ULP could stuff ballots into the boxes on national television and still get away with it. Seeing what goes on in this country, do you think the ULP plays by the rules?

  1. C. ben-David says:

    A window to the gross incompetence of the NDP, their lawyers, and their advisors.

    Eustace should be forced out … now … and the party completely rebuilt from the ground up, meaning all executive members should resign and fresh young, educated and intelligent people be brought in. Alternately, a new party should be formed made up of the best of the existing members and the old NDP left to sink into oblivion.

  2. The ULP must be really worried to be trying to stop the case before it is heard, seeing as they claim they did nothing wrong why do they need the biggest gun most expensive Caribbean lawyer to fight such a matter.

    Who is paying for the ultra expensive lawyer? is it the ULP or is it the Government? because if anything bad took place it was the ULP supporters not the government. So therefore the ULP should be paying the lawyers not the countries tax payers.

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