More than 50 candidates nominated for Antigua and Barbuda poll

CMC – The ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has seemingly brushed aside concerns raised by lawyers representing one of its disgruntled outgoing legislators and nominated Rawdon Turner to contest the St. Peter constituency in the January 18 general election.

The ABLP is the only party contesting all 17 seats in the general election when Nomination Day closed on Wednesday with the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) contesting 16 seats each.

There are three independent candidates, including Asot Michael, the four-term representative for St. Peter, who has been prevented from contesting the seat on a ticket of the ruling party.

In a statement, Michael, who has taken the Gaston Browne ABLP to court on numerous occasions, said that “there is a clear order of the High Court. All High Court Orders are to be obeyed unless varied or set aside. The nomination of Rawdon Turner on the ABLP ticket is a direct violation of that Order.

“I will bring contempt proceedings against any and/or all electoral officials who facilitates a breach of the High Court Order,” he warned.

In a December 28 letter sent to the Supervisor of Elections, Dame Lorna Simon, and copied to the Returning Officer for the St. Peter Constituency, Stephen Samuels, the lawyers representing , reminded them of the May 11, 2022 Order of the High Court, indicating that “an interim declaration is granted that Rawdon Turner was not selected in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Constitution of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.”

The letter said that the interim injunction remains in place “until the hearing and determination of this action or until there are fresh actions/proceedings initiated and conducted in accordance with the Revised Constitution of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.

“This declaration still stands. The defendants have not moved to the Court for a variation of this Order in any manner whatsoever, nor have they at any time appealed this Order,” the lawyers wrote, warning that as a result, Turner cannot be nominated as a candidate for the election.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Prime Minister Browne, who is seen dancing with his wife, another ABLP candidate, told supporters “we are officially nominated! Are you ready to take this country to the next level”.

Browne made no reference to the claims by Michael and his lawyers.

General elections were last held here on March 21, 2018 with Browne’s ABLP winning 15 of the 17 seats. The UPP and the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) won the other two seats.