UPP Files Lawsuit Challenging MP Appointment and Salary Increases, First Hearing Set for October 8

8
Simon

On October 8, the United Progressive Party (UPP) will begin its legal challenge against several political developments. Justin Simon K.C., a member of the UPP’s legal team, confirmed the lawsuit filing but withheld specifics.

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle is expected to address the matter in a press conference.

One key issue is the challenge to All Saints West MP Anthony Smith Jr.’s appointment to the Cabinet as an Independent MP. The UPP also plans to contest the recent salary increase for members of parliament.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]

8 COMMENTS

  1. Mr. Editor,
    I commend the Stance taken by the UPP to Challenge an Independent Member of Parliament who immediately goes into the CABINET of the Ruling Party to try to SIDESTEP the Demands of OUR CONSTITUTION…… THIS is WRONG….. I am Very Disappointed in the Actions of This Person who got into Our Lower House of Governance based on the UPP Members of The Constituency PUTTING him there with THEIR VOTES …..Otherwise he would not be in any Position to claim to be an Independent Candidate…. Then IMMEDIATELY CROSS THE FLOOR… …….What he did is exactly what Our Constitution says is not allowed CROSSING THE FLOOR….

    Mr. or Ms. Yendi please use your power of Reasoning…..

  2. I must say I am a law addict, law Nerd, to be exact. So, my response here is not to support any party or person, not this response. But to simply have a healthy legal debate with anyone who may be interested in such.

    I will make my points based on general knowledge of human and constitutional rights.

    I will also say that countries in which outlaws an MP from joining another party are usually lower level democracies.

    A democracy in which the political parties are so incompetent that they have a high fear of losing candidates as they are not creative, successful, and focused on progress enough to have confident to allow a constituency and MP to be free to decide strategically what they want because the parties have nothing to offer and know they would be at high risk for constituencies and MP’s to leave. Successful democracies do not have such laws or such laws with any severe remedies against the MP and / or constituency.

    To me, any political party that believes they must enforce an anti-crossing law is showing a sign of weakness and incompetence. You should know your party is so competent and attractive that you would want candidates and constituencies to be free to make any change they want. I would not enforce any anti-switching laws in my political party.

    I will say there is precedence within a government system like this that allows a two party ruling government; different parties/groups come together as separate entities to form one leading and ruling government.

    The two political parties may be an independent candidate, and a political party (in this case ABLP).
    This makes sense and has been done before. It is a strong sign of democracy.

    I would find it highly unconstitutional for there to be any laws that would bar an MP and constituency from making strategic decisions at will.

    An MP deciding to go independent and working closely with a particular political party does not mean his loyalty has shifted from his now independent views.

    *What if that candidate becomes independent but is still within the cabinet of the party he left and works closely with the party he left? Please answer this question. Would you consider him not an independent?*

  3. Kudos UPP. Treachery, betrayal and deception are one thing,this crossing the floor is bad for our politics.
    I know the Labourite carion will say all kinds of dirty,name-calling, mudslinging things because that’s just who they are,an extension of the one who calls himself DAWG, but they will never address the real issue. If the shoe was on the other foot, the uproar would have been off the charts.
    Hopefully, both blatant, disregard for law will be dealt with severely, but we know our courts.
    Be afraid Labourites. If Smithy is given the heel,we’re back to the poles. And if you think Shuggy’s shellacking of the DAWG in SMS was bad,Smithy’s in ASW will be an historic turnaround. Then guess what? The DAWG’S sleepless nights returns.

  4. And this is the AG that lost almost all his legal cases, costing the Treasury to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to those he sued or who sued the government, such as APC and HMB. What a waste of a KC.

  5. It’s a wonder Giselle embraced him and he Dominican 🤔

    Guess she only hab Chang fu JAMAICANS!!!!

Comments are closed.