Electoral Commission Bits Back at Prime Minister

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - Fast on the heels of an announcement of an investigation into the actions of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), members quickly sought not only to defend their actions but to lay blame squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.

An early morning release from the Prime Minister’s office on Friday disclosed that Spencer wrote Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack asking “that the matter of the removal of Electoral Commissioners, Sir Gerald Watt QC, Nathaniel James and Lionel Hurst be investigated”.

The Prime Minister said the failure of ABEC to conduct elections in every constituency in accordance with the law was in his opinion, “sufficient basis to examine whether the Commissioners had demonstrated their inability to exercise the functions of their office”.

According to the statement, in the April 29 letter, Spencer expressed his belief that there were “reasonable grounds to believe, and substantial grounds to support, a conclusion that the members of the Electoral Commission who were responsible for conducting the elections of 2009, demonstrated at the time of the election, and now, their inability to exercise the functions of their office as required by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2001.”

Although she cannot launch her own investigation, the Governor General can appoint a tribunal to investigate misbehaviour and determine if a commissioner should be removed.

Spencer’s letter noted particular concerns over the actions of Lionel Max Hurst, who has been openly campaigning for and engaging in protest action with the main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP). At a press conference scheduled before Spencer’s letter to the Governor General, ABEC Chairman Sir Gerald and other members capitalised on the opportunity explain what went wrong, and the role they felt Spencer played in their downfall.

Sir Gerald told journalists at the threehour long conference that the Prime Minister repeatedly failed to put the necessary resources in place in a timely manner, including the provision of adequate funds and the appointment of a boundaries commission to rectify problems with constituency lines. The chairman and his fellow commissioners – Paddy James and Lionel Hurst — made it clear that they saw no need to step down at any time, even when it was felt they were not given the kind of support they needed from the government.

“If you resign, anyone coming in is going to have the same problem,” Sir Gerald said. “Secondly, I don’t think it’s appropriate just because you are not getting the cooperation to desert the service that you are giving to the public.

“The Commission is supposed to be protected from political manipulation. If a government is able to cause ‘good persons or proper persons’ to and resign and resign because they hold the funds, then there’s no point having a commission,” the chairman said further.

James, the deputy chairman experienced similar sentiments, noting that it was the responsibility of the commission to serve the country.

“Once you are appointed, you are appointed, you are appointed to an institution of government with a functional aspect of the democracy of Antigua and Barbuda,” James said. “It has nothing to do with the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition … why (should) one have to resign from a position of trust and authority given to an Antiguan in the sharing of power?”

James noted that he was prepared to take legal action should the tribunal be called, while Watt said he welcomed an opportunity to defend his actions before such board. Earlier this week, Commissioner Agnes Blaize stepped down after serving four years. In her resignation, she stated, among other things that she found it difficult to serve on a body with commissioners who saw nothing wrong in associating with political parties in public, carrying placards in support of such political parties.

Meanwhile, Supervisor of Elections Lorna Simon has spoken publicly amidst calls for her resignation.

When questioned on how she felt about the job she did in supervising the electoral process in 2009, she said she regretted the circumstances that led to polls opening late. “I have always wanted to run a perfect election, because I am a professional and I regret what happened but it was all due to unforeseen circumstances,” Simon said. Simon, who served as the supervisor for the last two general elections, is the most senior administrative official in the ABEC office.

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