NDP demonstrates against Boundaries Commission meet

The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and its supporters took to the streets of Kingstown yesterday afternoon to protest a meeting that was expected to be held by the Boundaries Commission; a meeting which the NDP considers unethical.{{more}}

The call to protest was triggered on Wednesday, by an announcement that the Boundaries Commission was scheduled to hold a meeting at 2 on Thursday afternoon.

The Opposition does not trust this move and has put forward the possibility that the government is trying to find a loophole in the legal system to introduce the 17 seats passed into law in March, 2010, by issuing a new report; and having an Order published as soon as possible and dissolving Parliament immediately.

The Opposition decried what they see as a move by the Boundaries Commission “to circumvent” an injunction granted by Justice Gertel Thom on August 24, which prevents the publishing of an Order that “delineated and demarcated the boundaries for the additional two constituencies until the trial of this matter”.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves does not share the Opposition’s view that the Government is trying to do anything that is unethical or illegal.

According to Gonsalves, the Commission is only following Justice Thom’s ruling that it still has work to do.

Justice Thom’s ruling states: “The Commission would not have discharged its function in full if it simply signed the Order and delivered it to the Governor-General. The Order would only have effect if it is published. The Commission’s job is not complete until the Order is published.”

“In the judge’s judgment she said that the work of the Commission is not complete until the Commission publishes the report in the Gazette. Well if the work of the Commission is not complete, as a lawyer I take that to mean that if the Commission want to pull back the report and make any changes in the light of the judgment of the court they can do that,” said Gonsalves at a political meeting at Brighton on Wednesday night.

Linton Lewis, Chairman of the NDP, in an appeal to supporters to take to the streets on Wednesday evening, said the NDP is concerned that the Boundaries Commission is still very much alive and as a result, they can choose to ignore the Order of the court, and come up with new boundaries which will lead to them publishing the Order.

He said this move could also lead to Government dissolving Parliament yesterday once the 17 boundaries become effective.

“What Mr. Eustace is saying [is] that there is a possibility of, perhaps a probability, a strong probability, that Parliament will be dissolved tomorrow (Thursday, September 2) after their meeting. And therefore there is a need for Vincentians to show that at least, do not try to circumvent the decision of the court. Let us have things done in a proper, proper, manner. We have to be mindful that this is a high probability that Parliament can be dissolved tomorrow (Thursday),” said Lewis.

Lewis said the injunction was made because the Boundaries Commission did not follow the procedures required under the Constitution.

But Prime Minister Gonsalves contends that the Boundaries Commission is only following the judge’s judgment.

“Well, if the work of the Commission is not complete, as a lawyer I take that to mean that if the Commission want to pull back the report and make any changes in the light of the judgment of the court they can do that,” said Gonsalves.

“The judge said that until the report is published the Commission is still alive. That’s what it said you know. They went about and they broadcast and say they won a massive victory. I said all that has happened, they have shown that there is an issue to be tried. If the Commission reads the judgment and the Commission says well the judge said some things there which we should put right, I thought that they will be happy about that because they interested in a clean piece of work from the Commission,” said Gonsalves.

The Prime Minister said as far as he is concerned, the Opposition is only interested in dragging on the process in its bid to avoid having 17 seats in the general elections.

They not interested in having no 17 seats….You hear Nicole Sylvester and Kay Bacchus (Lawyers for the Opposition) say they don’t want to hold up elections, they only want it to be done properly.

“Well the judge pointed out some things in which it should be done properly so do it properly. What wrong with that and that’s the issue,” said Gonsalves.

“But you see that’s not what they are really concerned about,” he added.

Gonsalves said the NDP “wants to play for time” until the end of March comes.

“That is why I say fifteen or seventeen it’s licks like peas,” said Gonsalves.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace in his appeal for his supporters to take to the streets, said he wanted NDP faithful to come out and show their disgust with what is happening, especially in light of the fact that the ULP usually boasts of good governance.

He promised to keep his supporters informed with the developments.