Friday, March 29, 2024

ANALYSIS: Democracy Antigua style

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AS Caribbean Community leaders prepare for the 31st regular Heads of Government Conference next month in Montego Bay, Jamaica, they should perhaps devote some attention to political developments in Antigua and Barbuda in the context of the expressed commitment often made to ensure “democratic governance”.This attention could involve from the newest CARICOM administration [Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesar’s People’s Partnership Coalition in Trinidad and Tobago, to the oldest in Guyana –People’s Progressive Party/Civic, headed by President Bharrat Jagdeo].In the Leeward Island state of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has been heading a rather shaky administration since his United Progressive Party (UPP) was returned to power for a second term on March 12, 2009 with a slender 9-7 majority in the 17-member House of Representatives.Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar is expected to make her debut at the July 4 to 7 Montego Bay summit at which Prime Minister Spencer is also planning to be a participant.Spencer’s presence at the summit will be against the backdrop of a hearing by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, scheduled for next Tuesday (June 29) on the ruling last March 31 by High Court judge Louise Blenman in favour of three election petitions that went against the governing UPP.
AssurancesDuring either the official opening ceremony or in plenary session, there will be customary rhetorical assurances by Community leaders about commitment to “democracy” and the “rule of law”.However, months prior to the first anniversary of its narrow 2009 second-term victory last year over the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) of  former Prime Minister Lester Bird, the Spencer administration was facing a multiplicity of problems. That is, even after including the lone MP from Barbuda (Trevor Walker), in its ranks. Walker had contested as an “Independent” under the banner of his Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) and won with 474 votes. There then followed various political manoeuvres by the Spencer administration to avoid losing his UPP’s control of government.First, Walker, having taken the oath as the independent MP for Barbuda, gladly accepted an invitation to join Spencer’s cabinet as a “coalition” partner. It so happens that the country’s constitution forbids post-election coalition arrangements that could have the effect of invalidating the electorate’s verdict.Nevertheless, as events were to subsequently unfold, Walker’s inclusion in the UPP’s administration is proving to be a smart move, as it may now serve to safeguard – however temporarily – the longevity of Spencer as prime minister.The following scenarios should be of some help to readers’ undestanding of what’s happening in the area of democratic governance of Antigua and Barbuda by the UPP.Judge Blenman had ruled on March 31 in favour of three petitions filed by the opposition ALP that challenged the results of the March 12, 2009 election. The ruling included her declaration of “vacancy” of the parliamentary seats of Prime Minister Spencer and two of his cabinet ministers – Jacqui Quinn-Leandro (education) and John Maginley (tourism) – arising from claimed electoral improprieties.The government moved speedily to delay execution of Justice Blenman’’s ruling and a temporary order was granted by judge David Harris. Not surprisingly, Bird’s ALP in turn moved for a hearing by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (ECCA) of Judge Blenman’s original ruling. This was granted. Next Tuesday the ECCA hearing begins in Antigua.Even before this development, and perhaps in anticipation of the likelihood of having to hold three by-elections, or call a fresh general election – should the appeal court upholds Judge Blenman’s ruling – the UPP has been vigorously pursuing a two-track approach to avoid the loss of state power.It has combined an attack on the integrity of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission [comprising chairman Sir Gerald Watts, QC, Nathaniel James and Lionel Hurst] with a call urging Governor General, Dame Louis Lake-Jack [a former known political platform speaker of the UPP] to dismiss the trio of commissioners for a new commission to be established.
War of wordsThe ensuing war of words would undoubtedly have further weakened faith in the government’s commitment to adhere to the path of electoral democracy.There is more. A week ago today [June 16], Speaker of Parliament, Giselle Isaac-Arrindell suspended opposition MP Gaston Browne [one of the country’s more experienced parliamentarians] for the entire session of the House of Representaives that ends in December.The reason? He had, she said, encouraged members in the public gallery to repeat his chant that “Baldwin Spencer (the PM) must go” during the morning session of the meeting of parliament.. On the resumption later, the Speaker invited the Leader of Government Business to introduce a motion for Browne’s suspension from the services of the House for the entire current session.
At worseBrowne protested to no avail. Those versed in parliamentary procedures think that, at worse, Browne could have been suspended, if necessary, for the rest of that particular sitting of the House, but not for an entire parliamentary session. However, there may be more in the proverbial mortar than the pestle in the case of this long period of suspension. The advantage it holds for the Spencer administration is that in the event of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal upholding on June 29 Judge Blenman’s ruling to declare three UPP seats vacant, the seating status quo would have revealed a tie in the House – the government side would have seven MPs (including Walker, the “independent”) and, similarly, the oppostion ALP. But with Brown now out of the reckoning, the arithmetic will work in favour of the UPP administration with a majority of one – as arrangements are made for by-elections [if not a new general election] supervised by an expected new Elections Commission – to the satisfaction of the government. Additionally, new legislation has already been passed – in the face of an opposition boycot of parliament – for some very challenging changes to the country’s Representation of the People’s Act for new elections. Such, then, is the state of “parliamentary democracy” and what passes for “good governance” in Antigua and Barbuda.

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