Primary results to go before ABLP executive

The executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party will on Friday discuss the
outcome of the just-concluded primary election that was held in the All Saints
West Constituency last Friday night.
The results of the primary were announced following the poll with Lamin Newton,
securing the most votes at 157. Regis Newton followed with 142 and Arry Simon
with 60 votes.
Since Newton was the candidate with the plurality of the votes cast, he was being
declared a winner by some officials of the party. However, based on an agreement
signed between all three candidates prior to the contest which stipulated that there
shall be a run-off if no candidate attained 50 percent plus one of the votes cast.
There were 359 votes cast in the primary and none of the candidates was able to
gain the required threshold of 50 percent of the votes cast or 180 votes.
“That all competing members of the All Saints West constituency primary accept
that only one candidate can emerge victorious; and the candidate who receives
more than 50 percent of the votes cast shall be named the caretaker; and, if none
achieves the 50 percent threshold , then the two candidates receiving the two
highest number of votes shall go forward to compete in a run-off, and, that the two
candidates agree to accept the results of the first round primary and the run-off
election,” the agreement initialed by the three candidates stated.
Party General Secretary, Senator Mary Clare Hurst, said meeting of the executive
will be the final arbiter of what happens in this matter but she fully expects that
based on the agreement between the candidates the only way forward is for there to
be a run-off involving both Newton and Burton to determine the eventual winner
and the person who would be named caretaker for All Saints West constituency.
Point Express consulted with the Attorney General, Sir Steadroy Benjamin who
stated that it was ‘very clear’ from the agreement that a vote tally of over fifty
percent was required to be named winner (caretaker) and since no one achieved
that mount, his recommendation is for there to be a run-off of the two candidates
who garnered the most votes.
He added that the agreement represented a legal document signed by all parties
involved.