By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts- (FRIDAY 19TH JANUARY 2018)-Robelto Hector of the opposition Nevis Reformation Party has filed a court petition in challenging the Charlestown (District 1 St. Paul’s) seat which could possibly see a refreshed polling day should the court agree with the number of irregularities argument.
Hector, is of the view that a number of irregularities committed both in the electoral office and on polling day which warrants his objection.
Speaking with this media house yesterday (Thursday), Hector revealed that concerns he had leading up to the Elections held on Monday 18th December 2017 were not addressed by Elections Supervisor Elvin Bailey.
According to him, “up to now he (Bailey) has not answered me.”
He claimed that a number of persons’ names were taken off of the list and so they were disenfranchised. Additionally, he said some persons were wrongly registered.
Hector explained that “The court requires 21 days after the election to file a petition and that we have done.”
As gathered that NRP’s petition was submitted on Friday 12th January which was close to the cut off time.
Holidays during the Christmas, Carnival and New Year period allowed for a different countdown to the deadline.
Following the Elections, Hector lost to Spencer Brand of the concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) with 596 to 585 votes.
That district saw 2025 registered voters and from ballots casted, 12 returned spoiled and 3 were rejected.
Hector, during yesterday’s interview, said the court is being asked “to declare it (the seat) null and void” and should the ruling result in the opposition’s favour, it will be “back to the polls.”
The symbolic hammer of the CCM broke the bottle of the NRP, resulting in a 4-1 victory at the polls in the December 2017 local elections on Nevis.
NRP leader Joseph Parry of District 5 St. Thomas was the only candidate to win his seat, capturing 518 votes beating Keith Scarborough of CCM with 229.