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2009: June 02
June 30
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JUDGMENT
[1]
Blenman J: General Elections are always a matter of great national importance and so
they are in Antigua and Barbuda.
[2]
On the 12th March, 2009, General Elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda. The two
main parties that contested the elections are namely: the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) and
the United Progressive Party (UPP). In Barbuda, the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM)
contested the election against the ALP.
[3]
Mr. Chandler Codrington was the UPP candidate and he ran in the All Saints West
constituency against Mr. Daven Joseph who was the candidate for the ALP. The elections
having been held, Mr. Codrington was declared the winner (and was duly elected). In the
St. Paul’s constituency, Mr. Paul Chet Greene was the ALP candidate and he ran against
Mr. Eleston Adams who was the UPP candidate. Mr. Adams was declared the winner in
that race.
[4]
Ms. Lorna Simon is the Supervisor of Elections. Ms. Pauline Simon and Ms. Cora Huggins
were the Returning Officers/Election Officers.
[5]
It appears as though the elections were hotly contested and some of the ALP candidates
seem to be dissatisfied with the manner in which the elections were conducted. Several
petitions were filed in relation to the General Elections seeking to have it declared void. In
fact, a total of six petitions were filed. However, on the first day of the hearing, the Court,
having listened to the submissions of all learned Counsel, ordered that the first four
petitions were to be consolidated and heard together and the applications in those four
petitions were to be dealt with together. The other two petitions were similarly ordered to
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