President of the Antigua and Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU) Samuel James responded to Attorney General Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin justification for cancelling an election saying Benjamin ought to provide the relevant court document proving his claim.
“I challenge the Attorney General to make public any court documents which would have necessitated the ending or the cancellation of the balloting yesterday [Monday 17 February],” said James.
“I challenge him, bring to the media any document filed in any court, which would have necessitated the cancellation of the balloting at the Port Authority yesterday [February 17]…I can almost assure you that no such document will be made available because no such document, from our understanding, exists,” he added.
Attorney General (AG) Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin along with the Labour Department may face a lawsuit, by Antigua & Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU), after canceling an election among Port Authority workers to decide on their union of choice.
The ABFTU president defends that an election was in order because in 2018 port authority workers filed a petition to decertify the AT&LU in favour of having the Free Trade Union become their sole bargaining agent.
And, according to him, that election would have taken place had it not apparently been cancelled by the Labour Department under the advice of the AG.
However, Benjamin says the election was canceled because the court was dealing with a legal issue that must be resolved before an election can take place.
“I’ve been informed, and do verily believe, that an application was made for the court’s determination of a legal issue. And until that legal issue has been determined, nothing can move forward. That is the law of this land,” Benjamin explained.
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