Antiguan opposition legislator resigns, needs by-election
Antigua’s Opposition legislator, Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon, Wednesday stated he had submitted his letter of resignation to the Speaker of Parliament and can contest a by-election in a bid to thwart efforts by the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labor Occasion (ABLP) to problem his victory on the basic election earlier this 12 months.
“After cautious consideration and prayers, I’ve submitted my letter of resignation to the Speaker of the Home, Sir Gerald Watt, KC, informing him of my determination to vacate the seat in Parliament, so {that a} by-election may be held throughout the subsequent 120 days, because the legislation mandates,” Simon stated.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne had led the ABLP to a nail-biting victory within the January 18 basic elections, profitable 9 of the 17 seats for a 3rd consecutive time period in workplace.
Simon was among the many seven members of the primary opposition United Progressive Occasion (UPP) that received seats within the elections, however his victory over the incumbent Samantha Marshall by 199 votes for the St Mary’s South seat, has been challenged on the grounds that he was a public servant when he was nominated.
“The petitioner and the Antigua Labor Occasion first sought to forestall me from being sworn in as a Member of Parliament by looking for an injunction from the Court docket. This was refused by the Court docket on February 14, 2023.
“Since that date, I’ve been consumed by the litigation and the media controversy. This has created an unwarranted hindrance to the right execution of my duties because the consultant for the constituency of St Mary’s South,” Simon added.
He stated that the matter is because of be heard by the Court docket through the first week of July, “and whereas my attorneys consider within the power of my case, the result is fully within the arms of the trial decide.
“Whoever loses the case will attraction to the Japanese Caribbean Court docket of Attraction. This can delay the ultimate end result even additional, because the attraction must be heard and a call given,” he stated, accusing the ABLP of utilizing the courts “to bypass the desire of the individuals.
He recalled that whereas in opposition, the ABLP had challenged the election of 4 UPP members of Parliament and that attraction course of took over 12 months, crippling the UPP authorities’s capability to control through the attraction course of.
“It’s unfair to the individuals of St Mary’s South to have this uncertainty hanging over their heads. This case must be resolved with out additional delay. Due to this fact, my determination, immediately, June 7, 2023, is that I need this matter to be settled by the individuals; not by the Court docket.
“The constituents of St Mary’s South elected me convincingly earlier than, and I’m assured that they’ll achieve this once more in a by-election,” Simon added.
He stated to permit this matter to pull on for an additional 12 months will solely distract and diminish the will of constituents in St Mary’s South.
“I’ve the complete assist of the Management of the United Progressive Occasion, St Mary’s South Occasion Department and my authorized group – to whom I’m without end indebted for his or her assist, counsel and professionalism,” Simon stated, including “ let us head again to the individuals’s courtroom to create a future that all of us can consider in”.
CMC/