Antigua PM relieved by election petition ruling

Antigua's Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, says he feels vindicated and relieved by the ruling of the appeals court regarding his election to the parliament.



The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Spencer and two cabinet colleagues were properly elected as MPs last year.



The appeals court ruling overturned an earlier decision by the Antigua High Court that voided March 2009 election results in three constituencies including that of Prime Minister Spencer.



Antigua Labour Party leader, Lester Bird, had accused Prime Minister Spencer of being a squatter in the government and argued that the government MPs were improperly elected, largely due to the late start of voting in their districts.



Meanwhile, the Labour Party says the party is deeply disappointed by the ruling and has serious reservations about matters that led to the verdict.



However, the Opposition says it will abide by the judges’ decision.