Opposition claims judiciary is under attack

The opposition leader in Antigua and Barbuda, Lester Bird, says he has written to at least two international organisations complaining about alleged verbal attacks on the judiciary by the governing United Progressive Party (UPP).



While not giving details of the verbal attacks, Mr. Bird says they are linked to a high court ruling against the UPP resulting from a court challenge brought by his Antigua Labour Party (ALP).



Justice Louise Blenman recently declared vacant three of the parliamentary seats of the governing UPP, including that of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.



Mr Spencer\'s UPP is appealing the decision.



In letters addressed to the Commonwealth Secretary General, the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caricom Secretary General, Mr Bird claims that there are grave breaches of the rule of law in Antigua and Barbuda by the UPP.