{"id":213672,"date":"2024-10-12T09:55:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-12T13:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=213672"},"modified":"2024-10-12T10:00:28","modified_gmt":"2024-10-12T14:00:28","slug":"man-who-mounted-a-legal-challenge-to-anthony-smiths-independence-confident-of-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/man-who-mounted-a-legal-challenge-to-anthony-smiths-independence-confident-of-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Man who mounted a legal challenge to Anthony Smith’s Independence Confident of Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Eversleigh Warner Confident Court Will Declare Anthony Smith’s Seat Vacant<\/strong><\/p>

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Seaview Farm, Antigua \u2013 Eversleigh Warner, one of the three individuals challenging the parliamentary independence of Hon. Anthony Smith, expressed confidence that the court will rule in their favor, leading to Smith\u2019s seat being declared vacant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at a UPP meeting in Seaview Farm last night, Warner laid out his argument for why he believes Smith’s actions have violated the trust of the voters.<\/p>

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“I was born in April, but I wasn’t born on April 1st,” Warner told the crowd, making it clear that he felt misled by Smith. He emphasized that during the last election, he cast his vote for someone who represented the United Progressive Party (UPP) and not for an independent candidate. Warner said he would have never supported an independent run and expressed frustration over Smith\u2019s shift to independence after being elected under the UPP banner.<\/p>

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“When I send you to Parliament, I send you to represent me as a UPP candidate. I did not send you there as an independent candidate,” Warner declared, stating that Smith’s move to become independent and then participate in the executive was not in line with the will of the constituency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warner’s remarks echoed the sentiments of many UPP supporters who feel betrayed by Smith’s decision. “You cannot in all fairness take my vote and say you are now independent. Says who?” Warner questioned, noting that Smith did not return to the constituency to consult voters before making his decision.<\/p>

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He criticized Smith for joining the executive arm of government after distancing himself from the UPP, claiming that his actions were ultimately serving the interests of the Gaston Browne administration. “I didn’t send you to Parliament for that,” he stated firmly, calling Smith’s actions a breach of trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warner, along with two other constituents, has taken the matter to court, seeking a ruling on whether Smith’s independence is valid under these circumstances. He expressed optimism about the outcome, believing that the court will declare the seat vacant and force a by-election.<\/p>

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“I am confident of that, and I believe with all my heart that what will happen is that Gaston Browne will call a general election instead of a by-election because he knows the stakes are too high,” Warner concluded.<\/p>

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