Senior Counsel Astaphan rejects calls for withdrawal of new judge

Government Attorney Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan has rejected calls for the withdrawal of a new judge assigned to hear the December 2019 election petition matter.

The United Workers Party is challenging the results of the election in 10 constituencies.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court assigned Professor Eddie Ventose of St. Kitts to take the matter forward after the UWP called for and won the recusal of resident High Court Judge Bernie Stephenson.

Now the UWP is charging that Justice Ventose has previous ties to the Attorney General’s Office.

Astaphan has dismissed these charges as another UWP excuse to delay the hearing of the applications.