Candidates file petitions seeking to have elections declared void

Two of the candidates of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the December 9, 2015 general elections have filed petitions in the High Court, asking that the election in their respective constituencies be declared void.

Lauron Baptiste and Benjamin Exeter, in petitions number 202 and 203 of 2015, filed on December 31, 2015, said there were “multiple breaches of the Election Rules{{more}} and the Representation of the People Act” in the elections, “and accordingly the election was conducted in such a manner as not to be conducted substantially in accordance with the law as to elections.”

Baptiste, who contested the North Windward constituency, has named as respondents in his petition: Vil Davis, the returning officer for North Windward; Veronica John, the presiding officer for polling division North Windward 1; Montgomery Daniel, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate for that constituency, who was declared winner; and Sylvia Findlay-Scrubb, supervisor of elections.

Exeter on the other hand, has named Winston Gaymes, returning officer for Central Leeward; Kathleen Jeffers, presiding officer; Sir Louis Straker, the ULP candidate for Central Leeward, who was declared winner; Findlay-Scrubb and the attorney-general Judith Jones-Morgan as his respondents.

Daniel was declared winner of the North Windward seat by 2,713 votes to Baptiste’s 2,390, while Straker polled 2,497 votes to Exeter’s 2,184 in Central Leeward.