Watt Cites Clear Political Interference

Details

Politics

Monday, 03 September 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St. John’s - Former chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), Sir Gerald Watt says the recent High Court ruling in favour of two ABEC employees who were ‘transferred’ points to political interference into the affairs of the commission by the government.

Sir Gerald made the point during an appearance on the weekend talk show programme, Big Issues, during which he discussed the court ruling last week in favour of Karen Manwarren and Eren Francis. The court ordered that they should be returned to their respective posts at ABEC with immediate effect. It also awarded them damage in the amount of $40,000.

Both were transferred to positions within the government service by temporary chairman of the commission, Bruce Goodwin, who acted on the advice of the Cabinet. The law establishing ABEC clearly states that government should interfere in the affairs of the commission.

“What we have here is a series of action by an incumbent government which, taken singularly and collectively, point to deliberate interference into the affairs of the Electoral Commission. It also indicates an attempt to disseminate it by removing me, seen as a stumbling block, and by removing very experienced staff, either because they were seen as having a particular political complexion, which is not so, or if not that, in order to put persons in certain positions who they feel they could exercise control,” he explained.

The veteran attorney said this action by the government can be traced back to the establishment of the Tribunal that unsuccessfully sought his removal from office to the passage of an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, which effectively removed him as a member of the Commission.

Sir Gerald said the commission was warned by its in-house counsel, E. Patricia Simon-Forde, that the transfers were unlawful, but that they were carried out nonetheless. He said following his return to the Commission, a motion was moved mandating the return of Manwarren and Francis, but that current chairman, Juno Samuel, dragged his feet on the matter to the point where he failed to call a meeting of the commission for four months.

He said the accumulative effect of the losses by the government and ABEC within the judicial system as well as government’s decision to put party hacks in key positions at the Commission, must have a negative impact on the Electoral Commission’s standing in the community.

“It would amaze me if the body politic in Antigua & Barbuda did not feel that something is wrong at the Commission, and how they are going to get over that, I don’t know, bearing in mind that there are other cases pending against the commission,” he declared.

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He also returned to a familiar theme of asking out loud, who is advising the Prime Minister. Sir Gerald said while he has not discussed the matter directly with Attorney General, Justin Simon, he does not believe that the prime minister is taking legal advice on these matters from his own AG.

“Where is the Attorney General in all of this?” he asked rhetorically.

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