Premier Parry and his Deputy file appeal against decision of the Judge in Election Petition case

Premier Parry

ZIZ News…March 22 2012 — Justice Lionel Jones handed down his decision in the Election Petition in which the election of Hensley Daniel to represent the St John’s Electoral District in the Nevis Island Assembly was declared null and void.

Following the elections of 11th July, 2011, Mr. Hensley Daniel was returned as the successful candidate for that constituency and dissatisfied with this result, the Petitioner went to court for relief on various grounds.

In his decision handed down on Wednesday March 21, 2012, the Honourable Mr. Justice Jones made four orders as follows:

1. The Court refused to grant an order that the names removed from the electoral list for St John’s as a result of objection hearings be put back on the list. Those names remain off the list of voters for Electoral District No. 2 (St John’s).

2. The Court refused to grant an order that the Electoral Commission acted in contravention of the Constitution of St Christopher and Nevis by failing to take steps to ensure that the persons removed from the list were able to vote in the elections of 11th July, 2012. Those persons did not vote and the Court found that the Electoral Commission did nothing wrong.

3. That the petitioner’s right to freedom of expression was breached because the Nevis News Cast (NNC) did not cover any of the political events of the CCM.

Mark Brantley after the decision was handed down

4. That the election for the St John’s constituency held on 11th July 2011is invalid and void.

Meanwhile following the handing down by Justice Jones of his decision, both the Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry and his Deputy Hensley gave instructions to their lawyers to file an appeal against the Decision of the Judge in so far as he declared the Election in St John’s void and that the Petitioner’s right to freedom of expression was breached because the Nevis News Cast (NNC)did not cover any of the political events of the CCM.

Premier Parry in a broadcast said the appeal has already been filed and is now in the hands of the Court and the other Respondents have also filed appeals against the Judge’s Decision.

In addition to the appeals, Mr. Daniel has instructed his lawyer, Henry Browne and Premier Parry have also instructed his Lawyer, Oral Martin, to file the necessary documents to stay, that is to put a halt, to the decision of the Judge, until the appeals are heard. According to Premier Parry, this means that the government of Nevis remains firmly in place and the rule of law will be upheld.

In concluding his address Premier Parry urged all Nevisians, both supporters of the NRP and supporters of the CCM to continue going about their lives peacefully and in a manner that will provide an example to the rest of the Caribbean and the world.