Opposition Protest Against Electoral Office Illegalities

By: Staff Writer

Decked in black, the opposition St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party staged a small demonstration outside the Electoral Office, on Central Street, Basseterre yesterday, (Friday 24th) against alleged illegalities in the Electoral Office in St. Kitts.

With elections constitutionally due in February of 2020, Labour is adamant that the Team Unity Government (TUG) is engaged in systematic disenfranchisement of voters.

The opposition has accused the electoral office of denying known and perceived opposition supporters of their constitutional right to be registered to vote and to be issued their national identification cards.

Additionally, Labour has also accused the Electoral Office of not publishing the legally mandated monthly voters list.

Deputy leader of the SKNLP Marcella Liburd echoed that over 100 Labour supporters names in constituency #4 were removed from the voters list without any notification to the affected persons.

Allegations abound that even with a purported claim that the machine used to print Voter ID cards is down, persons supporting the government are able to get their cards once registered. However, Labour supporters are denied the right to register and obtain a Voter’s ID.

The Leadership of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party is calling for the resignation of the Supervisor Of Elections even after a meeting with him almost two weeks prior.

Citing participation in voters objection hearings to serving notices of objections, the Labour Party believes the antics are to manipulate the voters list.

Just after the 2015 elections, the Electoral Office was closed for six months to facilitate “an investigation.” The Attorney General who ordered the investigation has yet to disclose the findings after 4 years.