Prime Minister Godwin Friday said he is confident his team will prevail in the election petition challenging his eligibility to sit in Parliament, telling the petitioners they must “take your licks” following the outcome of the November general election.
Speaking to iWitness News outside the High Court in Kingstown after Wednesday’s sitting, Friday said he felt “very good” following the commencement of his legal team’s oral submissions.
“…I have confidence in our legal team. They are very well prepared. They understand what the legal issues are, what the political issues are,” Friday said, adding that his lawyers knew the importance of the matter and delivered.
“They presented the case expertly, and we are absolutely buoyed by our presentation today.”
Friday, the parliamentary representative for the Northern Grenadines, is defending a petition filed by defeated Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate Augustus Carlos Williams. Fellow ULP challenger Luke Browne, who is also a defeated candidate, filed a parallel petition against Minister of Foreign Affairs Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, the Member of Parliament for East Kingstown.
Both petitions contend that Friday and Bramble were disqualified from election under Section 26(1)(a) of the Constitution because they voluntarily acquired Canadian citizenship. Justice Gertel Thom is presiding over the consolidated petitions.
Friday said his legal team, led by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, will complete its presentations on Thursday, leaving the decision to the court.
“But I’m pretty, I’m pretty hyped about it because I know that we did a wonderful job today. Senior counsel here was on his feet for the whole day and did a tremendous job. Well done,” he said.
Friday maintained that he and Bramble have always viewed the constitutional challenge as a clear-cut matter.
“Because that is why we have been candidates for over the course of the time, and we have been elected year after year, election after election, with larger and larger majorities,” he said.
Friday has represented the Northern Grenadines since 2001, winning his sixth consecutive term last year with 2,185 votes to Williams’ 339.
While stating that he treats the court and the matter seriously, Friday said he should be working in his office rather than spending two days in court.
“But out of respect for the court, they tell me I could leave if I choose to and come back, but I want to be there to listen to the argument to show respect to the court, and the sooner this matter is concluded, the better,” he said.
Friday maintained that his team will prevail based on the law, how the principles have been applied and have been spoken of in court, as well as the submissions made.
“…We will prevail, and the people of this country have a right to be governed by the government that they choose, and you have a situation of 14-1…I know it hurts, but you got to take your licks,” he said, referencing his New Democratic Party’s 14–1 parliamentary majority over the opposition.
Friday denied discussing the petitions with Commonwealth heads of government during his recent visit to Antigua and Barbuda for the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
“Because this is a matter for the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and…we are going to decide it amongst ourselves here, which is what we are doing,” he said.
Friday added that he believed the electorate settled the issue in November’s general election.
“And we’re going to celebrate it just now, but this matter has come before the court, and we’ll dispose of this as well,” he said.