Parliament to meet in two weeks and new Supervisor of Elections to be confirmed, Cabinet Notes report

The House of Representatives is set to convene on Tuesday, July 25,
at which time debate is expected to be held on the selection of a new
Supervisor of Elections by way of a parliamentary Resolution.
This reportedly was discussed at Wednesday’s Cabinet
meeting, along with the proposed date for the by-election due in St.
Mary’s South.

Media reports are claiming that consideration is being given to hold
the poll no later than October 26; but the official date for the by-
election has not been finalized.

However, some members of the law fraternity are insisting that the
Constitution’s 120-day stipulation is unequivocal and makes no
exceptions for weekends or public holidays. Therefore, they say, the
cut-off date falls within the first week of October.

Meanwhile, some persons say that a by-election cannot be held
without the Supervisor of Elections being in place, since that
officer, along with the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission
(ABEC), has responsibility for conducting the polls. 

The post of Supervisor of Elections became vacant following the
retirement of Dame Lorna Simon, in May, after serving decades in
the post and as a public servant.

She presided over her last polls during the January 18 General
Election and the subsequent Council elections in Barbuda.
Since she proceeded on retirement, no replacement has been
announced; and it was the United Progressive Party (UPP)
spokesperson on legal matters, Leon Chaku Symister, who flagged
the vacancy and its implications for a by-election.

Meanwhile, it is widely believed that Ian Hughes, who served as
Simon’s deputy and received her blessing as her successor, will be
confirmed in the position. 

Hughes and ABEC Chairman John Jarvis reportedly met with the
Cabinet on Wednesday. In addition to the date by which the by-
election would be called, their discussion addressed the date by
which new-voter registration would close. This was set as July 31.
The UPP is hoping that, once the Supervisor is named, preparations
for the by-election will begin as soon as possible in order to avoid
hitches and mis-steps over the next three months.