Another twist in election petition matter as another judge withdraws from the case

There has been another turn of events in the ongoing saga of which judge will  hear a December 2019 election petition matter filed by the opposition United Workers Party (UWP).

Justice Eddy Ventose of St. Kitts, who was assigned to hear the matter last week has recused himself. No reason for that decision has been given.

Justice Ventose was assigned to the case after resident judge Bernie Stephenson recused herself. Attorney General, Levi Peter, subsequently wrote to the Chief Justice asking that Dominican-born resident judge, Wynante Adrien Roberts, not be assigned to hear the matter because she had previously worked in the public service as Solicitor General.

Meantime Government Attorney Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan has expressed puzzlement over the justice’s recusal.

Astaphan has taken issue with a letter written to the Chief Justice by a group of local lawyers, expressing concern about the Attorney General’s letter.