Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan Statement on High Court Ruling in Government Favour

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan has added his voice to the High Court ruling in favor of the government in a matter that goes back to the last general election which was held in 2014.

The Dominica Labour Party (DLP) won that election with 15 seats while the United Workers Party (UWP) got six.

Three supporters of the United Workers Party filed criminal complaints against DLP candidates for “treating” in the run-up to the election.

In the complaint made it stated that the government ministers “worked together to corruptly, directly and/or indirectly influence the results” of the poll.

The complaint also pointed out two free concerts, one featuring three-time Grammy Award winner and international gospel star, Donny McClurkin, and the other by Jamaican Reggae star, Morgan Heritage, as ways to “corruptly influence” the outcome of the election.

All elected members of the DLP were named in the complaint.

In her judgment, High Court Judge, Bernie Stephenson said a magistrate in the matter erred in law by signing and issuing summons for the members of government to attend court.

She ruled that only the High Court has jurisdiction over election matters.

In response to the matter Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan deemed the lawsuit as an act of hypocrisy by the supporters of the United Workers Party.