No challenge to December 13 Election results

Neither one of the two mass parties here has challenged the results of the December 13, 2010, elections by way of elections petitions.{{more}}

According to the Representation of the People Act, political parties have 21 days after the returning officers make their returns to file petitions challenging the results of general elections.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011, was that deadline.

The Unity Labour Party (ULP) narrowly won the general elections, 8 seats to the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) 7.

When contacted on Tuesday, General Secretary of the NDP, Allan Cruickshank, told SEARCHLIGHT that his Party did not file any petitions.

“No, no, no. I am quite sure about that….Any matters that will be dealt with now are civil matters,” said Cruickshank.

On December 14, 2010, the day after the general elections, Arnhim Eustace, Political Leader of the NDP, in an emergency address to the nation, gave notice of political and legal action following the recent general elections.

Eustace warned that once compelling evidence of election rigging is forthcoming, the NDP will aggressively pursue all legal actions and international redress to have the elections dismissed as unfair, unjust, undemocratic, and null and void.

On the issue of fraud, the NDP President said there are already several constituencies in which the NDP has enough evidence of actions which have violated the Representation of the People Act Section 55 of Section 5.

The evidence in the NDP’s possession, Eustace contended, has made the results in each constituency open to appeal and possible dismissal of the Area Representatives holding them.

In the meantime, Eustace said the NDP’s lawyers will be reaching out to the OAS, CARICOM and the wider international legal community to scrutinize every element of the elections.

“Where we find criminality, we will pursue prosecution immediately with the full force of international law. We will in addition to the proposed criminal proceedings file elections petitions challenging the return of identified members of the Parliament on the grounds of fraud, breach of the Representation of the People Act and the Elections Laws of this country,” said Eustace in his 12 minute address on NICE Radio.

Julian Francis, General Secretary of the Unity Labour Party, also confirmed to SEARCHLIGHT that his Party did not file any petitions.