Antigua Opposition cries foul

The main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has called for the Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer to reverse his decision to name a known party supporter as a member of the independent Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission.



In a statement, the ALP said newspaper reports indicate that the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) will appoint Juno Samuel as a member of the Commission.



The two political parties have been at loggerheads ever since Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack announced the suspension of three members of the Commission including its chairman Sir Gerald Watt and his deputy Nathaniel James.



The members are alleged to have breached the electoral law.



On March 31, Justice Louise Blenman ruled that the election of Spencer, Tourism Minister John Maginley and Education Minister Jacqui Quinn-Leandro was invalid, throwing the UPP administration into a tailspin.



The judge based her ruling on polling day irregularities, particularly the long delays before voting began in the three constituencies.



The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal is expected to hand down a ruling soon on that matter.