(Caribbean360) St. Vincent – One of the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) losing candidates in the December 9 elections was today granted bail on charges of assaulting police, following his arrest at an opposition protest yesterday.
Ben Exeter pleaded not guilty to three charges of assaulting police when he appeared in court this morning.
He will return to court on January 25, 2016.
They arrested Benjamin Exeter the candidate for Central Leeward, who challenged the results of 2015 general elections in his constituency.#thisisntdemocracy #wehaverights #policebrutality #policestate #injustice #DefendDemocracySVG
Posted by New Democratic Party on Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Exeter, who lost to the Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate Sir Louis Strake in the Central Leewards constituency, was among opposition members and supporters who were staging a demonstration outside Parliament, as MPs sat for the first time since the ULP’s victory at the polls, which the NDP is challenging.
A 17-year-old opposition supporter was also charged with obstructing police and the use of dangerous equipment, arising out of the same demonstration.
The NDP has insisted that it will continue its protests and will not accept the result of the elections.
The ULP won eight seats to the NDP’s seven, giving Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office.
Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace said the party will file election petitions today.