St Vincent opposition wins major victory in election challenge
CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal Tuesday, citing bias by the trial judge, Justice Brian Cottle, has reinstated the election petitions of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) challenging the outcome of the election results in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The NDP, which lost the December 9, 2015 polls by an eight to seven margin, is challenging the results of the Central Leeward and North Windward constituencies that were won by the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.
The NDP is asking the Court to declare its candidates the winners of the elections in the contested districts or to order fresh elections there.
Justice Cottle had initially thrown out the petitions as improperly filed, but the NDP appealed that decision.
After some delay, the appeal was heard in St Lucia on Tuesday and the Court of Appeal has reinstated the petitions.
The Court of Appeal has ordered that the order to strike out petitions be set aside, that the hearing of petitions and motions to strike be remitted to High Court to be heard by a different judge expeditiously.
The court also awarded costs to appellants in the lower court and in the Court of Appeal.
