Issues related to the St. Mary’s South by-election discussed by Cabinet

The Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) John
Jarvis, and the Supervisor of Elections (Ag.) Ian Hughes were invited to Cabinet
on Wednesday.
According to the Cabinet Notes, two issues occupied the Cabinet’s attention: i) the
precise deadline for the date of the by-election, given the date of the receipt of the
resignation of a member, from the St. Mary’s South constituency; and, ii) the final
day for the registration of new voters who intend to participate in the St. Mary’s
South by-election.
It was agreed that the latest date for holding the by-elections would be October 26,
2023. It was also agreed that the final day for registration of new voters would be
July 31, 2023. The date for the by-election in the St. Mary’s South Constituency
was not fixed.
The second matter raised had to do with the position of Supervisor of Elections.
“The Chairman of the ABEC sought and received confirmation that the position of
Supervisor of Elections will be tabled at the next sitting of Parliament. Dame
Lorna Simon has submitted her resignation on the basis of age, as dictated by the
law. The Cabinet took the opportunity to thank the outgoing Supervisor of
Elections for her tremendous work and outstanding competence,” the Notes stated.
It was also agreed that the ABEC is in a near state of readiness to conduct by-
elections. The Cabinet approved several sums of money to meet the obligations of
ABEC in the conduct of the pending by-elections.