The swearing-in of Randy Baltimore as the newly elected parliamentary representative for St. Philip’s North has been postponed to next Friday after an election petition was filed in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court challenging the outcome of last Monday’s by-election.
The petition, filed on March 20 by UPP Mobilisation Officer George Wehner, argues that Baltimore was not legally qualified to contest the seat, claiming he remained a public officer at the time of his nomination.
According to the filing, correspondence from the Public Service Commission dated March 19 indicated that Baltimore submitted a resignation letter intended to take effect on February 20. However, the Commission reportedly found the resignation defective under Civil Service Regulation No. 28(1), which requires at least three months’ notice. The Commission instead terminated his employment on March 9.
Wehner contends that Baltimore was still a public officer on Nomination Day, making his candidacy unlawful and the election result invalid.
The case mirrors a 2023 election petition brought by the ABLP against UPP MP for St Mary’s South Kelvin “Shugy” Simon, who was also challenged over his status as a civil servant at the time of nomination. That matter was later dismissed after Simon resigned as MP before the court concluded its hearing.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking on his Browne and Browne programme on Saturday, confirmed the delay but dismissed the legal challenge.
“It is a frivolous litigation and that is going nowhere,” he said, urging the public to disregard the matter.
Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan also described the petition as frivolous and vexatious, noting that questions surrounding a public servant’s resignation fall within the authority of the employer.
Baltimore, a former customs officer with nearly 30 years of service, won the March 16 by-election with 924 votes, or about 69 percent of ballots cast. UPP candidate Alex Browne received 407 votes.
He secured all seven polling divisions, with his strongest performances recorded in Willikies and Newfield.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation and retirement of Sir Robin Yearwood on February 18, marking 50 years since his first election to the seat. Yearwood was the longest-serving legislator in the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, having been elected to Parliament 11 consecutive times.
Browne said Baltimore’s swearing-in is expected to proceed on Friday as planned.
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George “HOUSE RENT” Wehner is doing more harm than good to the UPP.
@ Facts, you ABLP supporters are one big joke!
How come this maneuver by George Wehner is deemed to be harmful to the UPP’s cause, and yet when UPP legally won the All Saints West seat, only to have the winning candidate poached in an underhanded manner by Gaston Browne; and low and behold no recall of the ASW by-election called.
That sir was a bigger misdemeanor than I can recall in living memory.
You guys are so selective in your narratives towards Gaston Browne’s disruptive behaviour. Sheeesh!
boy de ASSing that Alex got in St. Phillips North worse than the one Cutie give Franz wid he own bullbud. All that money Juicy Joan said Alex got and he til lose. What a calamity!
This is an exercise in futility. The deck is always stacked against the Opposition. Remember Shugy had to go back to the polls. Not this time. Antigua is a most unfair country
Do you honestly want to put the voters of St Phillips through this again? Do you want to put Alex through another disappointing venture? Alright! Let’s do it all over again, this time it will be Baltimoe 1000 Browne 331. Madness.
So it’s frivolous now that a member of the UPP has filed an injunction, of a similar nature in the courts but not so when the ABLP did it in 2023?
At least, Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon had the decency to resign and turn around and still whip Gaston and Judas George at the polls. Therefore why is Gaston trying his usual reverse psychology tactic to fool the people?
In another Court battle the Alfa Nero saga is burning through our treasury like a wildfire.
So it’s frivolous now that a member of the UPP has filed an injunction, of a similar nature in the courts but not so when the ABLP did it in 2023?
At least, Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon had the decency to resign and turn around and still whip Gaston and Judas George at the polls. Therefore why is Gaston trying his usual reverse psychology tactic to fool the people?
In another Court battle the Alfa Nero saga is burning through our treasury like a wildfire.
@Carvaa standing up for your rights is not about winning nor losing, it’s about standing up for what is right regardless of the price one may pay.
There were many before us such as King Court, VC Bird Snr, Nelson Mandela and countless others who were aware, that standing up for equal rights and justice is not easy and you could pay the ultimate price with your life, be incarcerated yet they fought their battles regardless which gave others a footing to stand on to carry on their works against the injustices and prejudice against the powers that be.
Would you want the DPP to refile the murder cases of Chantel and Nigel if they lose because of law enforcement not following the proper procedures to collect, store and analyze the evidences?
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