St Vincent Gov’t files second motion against election petitions
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — The High Court is expected to begin hearing tomorrow an application filed by the Government calling on it to dismiss petitions filed by the main Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), calling for fresh elections in two constituencies.
The High Court had earlier this month dismissed the Government’s application with High Court judge, Justice Brian Cottle, saying it had been filed prematurely.
Attorney Richard Williams said that a notice of motion was lodged with the court on April 14, at least 10 days after the initial High Court ruling on the matter.
The Opposition NDP has filed petitions asking the High Court to declare it winners of the Central Leeward and North Windward constituencies following the December 9 General Election last year. The party also wants the court to order fresh election in those districts.
But Justice Cottle however, ruled that having heard all the arguments, the Government is bound to succeed if the motion was brought at the beginning of the hearing of the actual petitions.
The ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves won the election by an eight to seven margin.
Leader of the Opposition and NDP president, Arnhim Eustace, said on his radio programme Monday that the government has refiled an application asking the court to throw out the petitions.
Unlike the first application, which was heard in chambers, the new motion would be heard in open court
“Those of you who can come into the court to see it, come and see it and be there. I don’t know what steps may be put in the way to stop that, but I can confirm that they have reapplied to throw out the petitions again,” he told radio listeners.
Meanwhile, Williams said that in his first ruling, the judge had said the government’s applications were filed prematurely.
“So we are just refling the same thing, but just in a different format,” Williams said, adding that the Government has a good case.
The lawyer said while the motion is set to be heard tomorrow, the parties involved are in discussions to come to an agreement to have all matters related to the case heard on a subsequent date.
