The Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has sought legal counsel on the government’s interpretation of the constitutional office of the supervisor of elections and its ultimate decision to strip the holder of significant responsibilities thought to have been “understood” as being part of the job title. The legal opinions will come from Elliott Mottley of Barbados, Anthony Astaphan of Dominica, and Sir James Guthrie of Britain.
The party was poised to host a press conference on Tuesday, but cancelled in anticipation of the legal opinion, which will determine whether or not it has sufficient grounds to challenge the government’s legislative changes in court.
“This one is too important,” former prime minister Lester Bird said about the matter that was debated for the second time in the Senate on Monday. “If it can stand up in court, we are going to take the matter for judicial review or for a declaration,” the former PM said.
Bird said he walked out of Parliament because Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer was giving his interpretation of the independence of the supervisor of election in London. But as far as Bird understands, the people in the UK have made their intentions clear not to interfere in any way with the office of the supervisor.
Full Article: ALP Seeks Legal Opinion on Electoral Changes | Politics | News | Home | CARIBARENA ANTIGUA.
