By Jada Chambers
Election petitioner Luke Browne says he does not think it is fair for the public to suggest that the Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidates would not have brought the dual citizenship election petitioners if the New Democratic Party (NDP) had lost the November 2025 general election.
On Thursday, several NDP supporters from East Kingstown were cross-examined as the trial continued at the High Court in Kingstown.
The questioning focused on their political allegiance, their relationships with petitioner Browne and respondent, East Kingstown MP Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble.
The witnesses were also questioned about their knowledge of Bramble’s dual Vincentian and Canadian citizenship, as well as that of Prime Minister Godwin Friday, who is MP for the Northern Grenadines.
The respondents called 21 witnesses during the evidentiary phase of the trial, which ended on Thursday.
Justice Gertel Thom has instructed both sides to present written submissions by Nov. 4 and to appear before the court on Nov. 10 for oral arguments.
Agustus Carlos Williams is challenging the nomination of Friday in the Nov. 27 general election as well as the action of the returning office, Devon Ollivierre, and the Supervisor of Elections, Dora James, in that regard.
As is the case with these types of matters, the attorney general is also a respondent.
In the second matter, Luke Browne is challenging Bramble’s nomination and the action of the returning officer, Jacqueline Browne, the supervisor of elections and the attorney general in that regard.
Following the adjournment on Thursday, iWitness News questioned Browne outside the court about observations that he and fellow petitioner Carlos Williams were smiling during the cross-examinations of the defence witnesses.
Browne said his team’s demeanour did not reflect amusement, stating that they view the ongoing case as a serious matter.
“…I think that we are confident in our position … We are thankful that he has committed himself to the process of allowing us to explore the full extent of our constitutional rights,” he said, referring to Senior Counsel Stuart Young, the lead lawyer for the petitioners.
Browne said the case is significant to the wider Caribbean and reiterated his position that the petitioners experienced a successful week in court.
“… And even if we take it back to the earliest sitting … I think we have had a well-organised case.”
With the petitioners’ evidence now closed, Browne stated they are looking forward to the next phase of the trial.
“So we’re looking forward to this very consequential case with implications not only for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for the clarity of our law, but for political practice in the Caribbean and also the wider world.”
Asked by iWitness News about social media commentary suggesting that the petitioners would not have pursued the legal challenge if the election results had been different, Browne noted that an election could end differently in numerous ways.
As iWitness News interjected with the specific scenario of an NDP loss, Browne insisted that the general election could have ended with him winning the East Kingstown seat, which would clearly result in the court case being moot.
“And if there were an overall different outcome, I think that is just really a matter of speculation.”
Browne explained that during the build-up of the election campaign, the ULP undertook an elaborate process to bring the matter to public attention.
“So I don’t think that it would be fair to suggest that we might have taken a different course of action if it was a separate or a different outcome.”
Petitioner ‘could not have asked for a better week’
Meanwhile, Young, who also spoke with the media outside the courtroom on Thursday, commented on the proceedings and the developments that occurred on the stand.
“… For anybody who witnessed what … happened over the past week in cross-examination, in particular of the respondents’ witnesses … and in particular what happened today with some of their witnesses, … certain evidence came to light whilst they were in the box and certain positions were taken.”
While Young did not elaborate on the evidence presented, he emphasised that he is highly confident regarding the state of the case.
He said Justice Gertel directed the legal teams to produce statements of agreed facts, alongside statements of disputed facts for her determination.
“But I have to say, from the petitioner’s point of view, we could not have asked for a better week with our cross-examination of the respondents’ witnesses, and especially this afternoon. We feel very, very confident from an evidence point of view…”
He also declined to comment on the potential outcomes of the matter, or the legal consequences if the court rules in favour of the petitioners.
Young said that if Justice Thom decides that petitioners are successful, she is also responsible for determining the consequences of that decision.
“…Well, should the petitioners — or when they are successful, we really have to wait and see. I don’t want to say, we can’t say, and we shouldn’t say anything more at this stage,” Young said.
“… her ladyship will decide, and she will also decide one way or the other what are the consequences that would flow from her decision …I don’t want to say much more at this stage.”
‘sour grapes and sore losers’
Speaking to iWitness News separately on Thursday, the prime minister described the legal challenges as a case of “sour grapes and sore losers”.
His remarks were supported by lead defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, who characterised the opposition’s legal tactics as “disingenuous” and “anti-democratic”.
In the lead-up to the November vote, the ULP had urged voters not to cast ballots for Friday and Bramble, saying those votes would be wasted.
The party also announced that it would challenge their nomination to participate in the polls, given that they allegedly hold Canadian citizenship.
Friday has been an MP since 2001 and Bramble is in his second five-year term as MP for East Kingstown, having been first elected in November 2020.
They have both maintained that the Constitution permits them to sit as MPs while holding Canadian citizenship, claiming that the supreme law in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is different in this regard.
Williams lost his deposit on his second attempt to wrest the Northern Grenadines seat from Friday, who amassed 2,185 votes, compared to Williams’ 339, even as 11 ballots were rejected.
Browne performed better in East Kingstown, although he failed to win the seat for the fourth consecutive time.
He attracted 1,727 votes — 1,001 fewer than Bramble –while 19 ballots were rejected.
The NDP won the election by taking 14 of the 15 Parliamentary seats.