Asot Michael MEDIA STATEMENT

           

The Political Leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), the Honourable Gaston Browne, has written to the Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Boundaries Commission, Mr. Clarence Crump, objecting to the evident plans of the Commission to “gerrymander the boundaries of the Constituencies” while failing to abide by the dictates of the law.

           

The Political Leader’s letter, dated June 17 2013, was delivered to the Chairman of the Boundaries Commission at a so-called Consultation meeting held in Pares Village on the same evening. It was read aloud to the Commission and the packed schoolroom. The short letter provides a synopsis of the many disturbing and unlawful steps taken by the Boundaries Commission in order to engineer an electoral victory for the ruling party.           

The Leader of the ABLP pointed out that Section 3 Subsection (2) of the Constituencies and Boundaries Guidance Act 2013 provides that:

 “During the process of review, the Commission shall where necessary hold consultations with interested persons and obtain credible data or information to assist it in its deliberations.”

The Commission should therefore be holding consultations in order to assist it in determining what rational and reasonable changes it may wish to make to the boundaries, the Hon. Gaston Browne pointed out. Instead, the Commission Chairman has written to the Leader of the ABLP, and the Party’s other six elected parliamentarians, announcing the changes that the Boundaries Commission intends to make, before the Consultations have even begun. That is contrary to the law and is clear evidence of the Commission’s intent to gerrymander, the Hon. Gaston Browne remarked. The Consultations are therefore a farce, the Leader told the gathering on Monday night, and must be brought to an immediate end.

The Political Leader accused the Boundaries Commission of dragging its feet and intentionally delaying its work since the March 11 2013 Report, which it intended to deliver without consultations and other creditable inputs, was halted in its tracks by an injunction issued by the High Court on that day.   

The Honourable Gaston Browne also made a demand for a number of documents, including the 2011 Census Report, which the Commission indicated it had relied upon to reach its conclusions. The 2011 Census Report is reportedly not yet available upon request; however, the Boundaries Commission quoted data extensively from it. The Leader also asked to be provided maps and other documentation relied upon by the Boundaries Commission.

The audience at the Pares Secondary School on Monday night, June 17 2013, showed its strong distaste for the Boundaries Commission plan to eliminate St. Peter’s as one of seventeen constituencies. The legal challenge to the legitimacy of the Boundaries Commission’s unlawful plan will again very likely come before the Court.