Concern over EBC’s readiness for imminent by-election

The Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) is being called upon to state its readiness for next month’s by-election in St George North.

It is coming from Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley, who wants the EBC’s chairman John Haynes to either meet with the political parties or to issue a statement declaring its preparedness for not only the November 11 by-election but also in the event that a general election is called before the Constitutionally due date in 2023.

“I am asking the chairman if he would be so kind or he and the members of the Commission would meet with the political parties involved in the by-election in St George North or if they would make a statement to the public as to the readiness of the election machinery in Barbados, is at the upcoming by-election as well as beyond that any general election that will be called in Barbados,” the Leader of the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) said during a press conference at the Opposition’s Worthing, Christ Church, headquarters this morning.

Atherley also raised the concern that for the first time in Barbados’ history two EBC’s would oversee one elec

He explained that with the current Commission set to expire at the end of this month, it meant a new Commission would have to be put in place before Barbadians go to the polls on November 11.

He said as mandated by law, the Prime Minister appointed three persons on the Commission while the Opposition Leader appointed two persons.

He explained that if the by-election had taken place before November 11, it would have been supervised by an EBC appointed by former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

Atherley said he feared the new Commission would not have had sufficient time to oversee the by-election.

He said it was also important that the move was not seen as a form of manipulation by Government.

“You may not have realized it but the life of this current EBC is coming to an end on the first or second day of November. The election is scheduled in Barbados for St George North on November 11; that would mean that a new EBC would have to be in place after this one demits office and would have just a week to oversee the process of a by-election which was suddenly called and also start to prepare for any general election subsequently be called,” Atherley said.

“I do not seem to recall at any other time in Barbados where we had a situation where two different Commissions were charged with the responsibility of overseeing the processes surrounding any particular general election or by-election and that is what is happening now.”

The Opposition Leader said he did not want a repeat of the 2018 general election where matters relating to the election were still being heard before the law courts on polling day.

He said on that occasion counting of the ballots had also started later than usual.

Atherley said with the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Smart Technology now responsible for new national identification cards, it was important that the process goes smoothly. (RB)