The United Progressive Party (UPP) plans to appeal a High Court ruling denying access to the 2023 voters’ picture list, citing a need for electoral transparency. Legal advisor Leon ‘Chaku’ Symister, representing St John’s City West caretaker Alister Thomas, filed the initial case under the Freedom of Information Act after the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission refused access.
The Commission argued that restricting access protects against identity theft, harassment, and unauthorized voter tracking. Justice Jan Drysdale upheld this position, citing privacy concerns and instances in the Caribbean where misuse of voter photographs undermined public trust.
Symister claims the decision contains “appeal reversible errors” and plans to file a notice of appeal within 42 days, potentially escalating the case to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal and the Privy Council. He warned that withholding the list could erode public confidence, questioning, “What do you have to hide?”
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So, the voters picture list is like a Caribbean treasure map everybody wants it, but nobody’s sure if it’s worth the trouble everyday is a drama with politics
It’s great to see the UPP advocating for electoral transparency Open access to information is a cornerstone of democracy, and their efforts highlight the importance of public accountability.
You must be silly. What a transparency are u referring to with UPP?? You didn’t hear JERMAINE EDWARDS EXPOSE UPP ABOUT ITS LACK OF “TRANSPARENCY” leading up to the primary that she had to withdraw from???
https://antiguanewsroom.com/jermaine-edwards-withdraws-from-upp-primary-for-st-johns-rural-south-cites-leadership-failures/
Go and listen to what she told Miss Knight
Foolish argument! A waste of the court’s time. Is this simply an exercise in testing the judicial system? This is going nowhere. The picture list won’t change the outcome.
What’s the purpose of wanting the picture id list? Is it to natch names to faces so that people can be harrassed in the community? The picture id list is for internal use only and should not be shared with the general public. To make that list public would erode the confidence of the integrety and confidentiality in the electoral process.
Antiguans must demand transparency in all political and financial matters. Or it will make people suspicious of what the ABLP are trying to keep from the voting public.
Let’s hope that no gerrymandering was afoot!
We must never give up this fight and Freedom of Information for our fundamental and democratic rights. Keep up the good fight sir – you are on the right side of history.
The UPP taking our democratic rights seriously.
UPP Getting Stronger and Stronger each day ✊🏾
🟨🟦🟨🟦🟨🟦 Hip, hip, hip …
@Brixtonian.
Oh shush! They are not taking the democratic rights oz their own Internal affairs seriously. So what are you talking about? The best of UPP have left the stage. What’s left are the ego-trippers, hungry for power and angry at the world. Vindictive set of people. Their politics is to besmirch others with no facts or proof who are in leadership.
Hi Dave, I hope your day is going well.
But I must reply (as per usual 😁). Just before the last General Election, rumours were rife – whether true or not – that many votes that were cast were either moved to help the ABLP, or that votes from migrants that were given Immigration status by the current administration secured their Election victory.
Now Dave, you come over as a somewhat reasonable and educated man like myself – even though we are on opposite sides of our political spectrum.
Don’t you think that transparency in this important matter is an absolute must?
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RETORT DAVE…
why you didn’t tell Alister Thomas to run for upp LEADERSHIP???
This is much ado about nothing and simple political grandstanding. Alister Thomas has run a number of times and on most occasions has lost his deposit. Anyone who has voted in Antigua and Barbuda knows that the voting process is totally open and public. First of all there is a period of objections to the list. Then when you go to vote all political parties have agents in the polling station. You present your voter’s ID and the Polling Clerk calls out your name for all to hear. They then check that you are on the list. Then you get the ballot. If people vote illegally, it is because the scrutineers for the party is not doing their job. Don’t blame anyone, if you select lazy and irresponsible people to be your polling agents.
Alister go rest you weary self. Go fix that spot on you nose, you look like Rudolph.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 a so he head big. Still living in de old man house with NO TITLE DEED?
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