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Opposition Leader and NDP president, Godwin Friday addresses party supporters in Kingstown after the ruling.  (iWN photo)
Opposition Leader and NDP president, Godwin Friday addresses party supporters in Kingstown after the ruling. (iWN photo)
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One of the politicians whose election petition the High Court dismissed on Thursday has vowed to appeal, while the other has remained mum on the decision.

“Is its very disappointing but it happened before where the case was thrown out, we went to the Appeal Court and were successful there,” Benjamin “Ben” Exeter of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) told iWitness News shortly after Justice Stanley John dismissed his petition.

“Seems that we can’t get judgement in St. Vincent so we will find another venue, the appeal court,” Exeter said.

Exeter was challenging the announced victory of Sir Louis Straker of the ruling Unity Labour Party in the Dec. 9, 2015 general election.

Lauron “Sharer” Baptiste, also of the NDP, has also failed in his efforts to get the court to rule that the ULP’s Montgomery Daniel was not duly elected Member of Parliament for North Windward.

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Exeter’s comments came shortly after Justice John read a summary of his judgement in court.

The judge ruled that the only evidence that Exeter produced to support his claim was that the returning officer for Central Leeward, Winston Gaymes was partial to Sir Louis during the final count.

Queen’s Counsel Stanley “Stalky” John, who was Exeter’s lead lawyer, reserved comment on the judgement.

“Of course, we are disappointed but as soon I have had an opportunity to read the judgement, I may have come comments,” he told iWitness News.

Keith Scotland, who was Baptiste’s lead counsel, said he would take his cue from counsel John. 

“We will await the written judgement and then we will decide how we approach this. I assure you that we are prepared. That is what I can say. We are prepared, if need be, for the next step. I have to speak with the team, I have with the clients and, of course, I have to speak with Mr. John, QC, who is for Central Leeward.”

The petitions were filed on Dec. 31, 2015, when Arnhim Eustace was leader of the opposition and president of the NDP.

Eustace, who is Member of Parliament for East Kingstown, told iWitness News that he was disappointed with the court ruling.

“Well, I am disappointed but we ain’t finish yet. The matter will continue.”

He said his comments were an indication that the petitioners will appeal. We are not finished on the matter. Far from that, as a matter of fact.”

And Leader of the Opposition and NDP president, Godwin Friday, in his immediate reaction, told iWitness News:

“I would say that I was profoundly disappointed with the decision of the court today,” he said, adding that he would reserve further comment until he had seen the judgement.

“But I came to court today confident in the positions that were advanced by the petitioners and the counsel and I am very disappointed that the court did not see the evidence the way that our lawyers, our petitioners and I would say that a vast segment of the Vincentian community saw it.”

Friday, who is also a lawyer, said that Justice John had said that he had found no evidence to support the petitioners’ allegations.

The opposition leader, however, said that some of the revelations during the trial outraged the public.

“… obviously, we do not agree with his decision, but the judge, that is his prerogative and we will take advice from our counsel and decide how to move forward.”

Meanwhile, Maia Eustace, a lawyer, who was an agent for Exeter on election day and during the final count on Dec. 10, 2015, told iWitness News:

“We remain in this battle and we will discuss our options going forward.”

She said she was disappointed with the court ruling.

“But we still have to have our discussions, perform a post mortem and decide on next steps. There are always next steps.”

And, Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, St. Clair Leacock, an NDP vice president, was lost for words after the judgement.

Asked if he had any comments, Leacock told iWitness News:

“None whatsoever. I am just dumbfounded”.

6 replies on “PETITIONS TRIAL: NDP ‘disappointed’ with ruling, hints at appeal (+video)”

  1. THATS JUST TALK …………THERE MUST BE LEGAL GROUNDS ON WHICH TO APPEAL , AND THE RULING JUSTICE JOHN ALREADY SITED MANY OTHER PAST CASES WHERE MISTAKES ARE COMMON .
    THE ONLY GROUNDS I SEE A PEEP AT THE WINDOW ON APPEALS IS MAYBE WITNESS GAYMES WHO WAS UNAVAILABLE ……..BUT THAT WAS THE PETITIONERS RESPONSIBILITY TO SUBPOENA THAT WITNESS TO TESTIFY AGAINST THEIR WILL OR RISK CONTEMPT OF COURT . SO EVERYTHING FALLS BACK TO INCOMPETENCE ON THE OPPOSITION / PETITIONERS PERIOD.
    FURTHERMORE THE APPEAL PROCESS WOULD LAST DOUBLE THE TIME IT TOOK FOR THIS CASE TO END …. FOUR TIMES TWO .SMH…….LOL

    1. ALL FACTS.

      With the costs they will have to pay, I’m curious to see where money for a Privy Council appeal will come from?

      As you rightly said, their grounds for such an appeal will be interesting

      1. As a self-proclaimed “vincy lawyer” you should know that the Privy Council has no jurisdiction in this case.

  2. Appearing dejected, the supporters of the NDP should keep in mind that quote from William Shakespeare, in Measure for Measure when he wrote “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

    And Bryant H. McGill that American author, poet, activist, and motivational speaker, who once appeared on the front page of The Wall Street Journal in 2006, he once said that “The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places”.

    Therefore guys, you should be of good cheer and remember this, that throwing off the chains of oppression does not come easy, nor would it come with you asserting one lurch for freedom. The fools who stands in your way know no better and nor will the oppressor give up his controlling power by you just simply asking for your freedom.

  3. THE GREAT BOB MARLEY QUOTE ….. ” EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY , NONE BUT OURSELVES CAN FREE OUR MINDS ” ……SLAVERY HERE IN THIS SENSE WOULD MEAN , POLITICAL BRAINWASH …………

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