BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the two electoral officers position left vacant by resignation now filled, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) has restated its expectation that the law would be fulfilled and a by-election be held in short time.
Information which this publication received indicates that political parties across the Federation were issued letters from the Supervisor of Elections indicating that Beulah Sandra Liburd has been appointed Registration Officer for the St. John’s, Nevis Constituency.
Her appointment took effect from October 5, 2012.
That post was previously held by Bernadette Lawrence – who demitted office on September 13, 2012. Her resignation came a couple of weeks after the former Supervisor of Elections – Pastor Leroy Benjamin – gave up that post.
And both came after the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) found that they had failed to carry out their electoral duties as prescribed by law. hat judgment had also declared the election of the Nevis Reformation Party’s (NRP) Hensley Daniel null and void.
Deputy Political Leader of the CCM Mark Brantley told this publication that the CCM “welcomes the appointment and we are hopeful that the new registration officer would conduct herself in accordance with the electoral laws of the land and not make the same mistake made by her predecessor. I think that we will see by her work what she is made of and we look forward to working with whoever is put there…”
Following the court’s ruling, Brantley declared that – as the St. Kitts-Nevis Constitution stipulates – a by-election must be held within 90 days to fill the seat which the court’s ruling left void.
He maintains that a by-election has to be held and 43 days having elapsed since the judgment was handed down by the court, those who have the authority to do so must act quickly to ensure that the Constitution is obeyed.
“That is what the law requires. The law requires an election! It says very clearly – within 90 days - and we expect an election to happen in accordance with the Constitution.”
As it stands, both the CCM and the NRP have two seats each.
