Counsel Kenny Anthony Informs Court
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 03, 2009 (CUOPM)
There was no discussion of a December 16th deadline during the series of meetings of the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC), High Court Judge His Lordship Justice Frances Belle was informed Thursday afternoon.
“I report as a judicial officer that the Respondents have a responsibility to full disclosure and that I had a discussion with the Secretary to the Commission and Chairman and there was no discussion of a deadline date of December 16th and there is absolutely no reference of a December 16th date being discussed at any meeting of the Constituency Boundaries Commission,” said Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony told the Court.
Dr. Anthony assured Justice Belle that he also had discussions with the existing members of the CBC and was given the assurance that there was no discussion on a December 16th date.
Counsel Dr. Henry Browne also informed the Court that the Minutes of the November 11th sitting of the Constituency Boundaries Commission is being transcribed and will be available to the Registrar and the Claimants by 7:00 p.m. He said an electronic copy will be dispatched earlier.
Earlier Thursday, Justice Frances Belle rejected an application for specific disclosure from lawyers for Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Representative for Nevis 9, the Hon. Mark Brantley and opposition Parliamentarian, the Hon. Shawn Richards.
Messrs Brantley and Richards had moved the Court Wednesday through their lead counsel, Ms. Mia Mottley seeking specific disclosure of several meetings of the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC).
In rejecting the Claimants application for specific disclosure, Justice Belle ordered that the minutes of the November 11th meeting, which the lawyers for the Government and the CBC agreed by consent to be disclosed to the Court and the Claimants.
Justice Belle also ordered the transcripts of any reference or discussion about the deadline of the 16th of December.
Thursday’s ruling vindicates the lawyers for the government who were of the view that the application all along was a fishing expedition by the Claimants, Hon. Mark Brantley and Hon. Shawn Richards.