Spencer Promises ALP Members Will Have their Dates With the Court

Members of the Opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) have had a spate of dismissals by the Court of Appeal and the High Court in cases they have filed.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer made the revelation in a televised speech to the nation last evening, noting that this is the impetus for members of the ALP to regain power in order to elude the law and deflect residents’ minds from the true issues at hand.

“The actions of the ALP and its leadership have nothing to do with the interest of Antigua & Barbuda and its people,” he said. “They are desperate to get back the reins of government to again plunder the national treasury like they did before.

“They want to get back in to save themselves from prosecution, which the state has started against them, and which they are using legal gymnastics to avoid,” the PM declared.

To give teeth to his conclusion, Spencer first made reference to the case involving the transfer of three acres of land in Nelson’s Dockyard by the former ALP government to its now Chairman Gaston Browne.

According to PM Spencer, the High Court ruled that the transfer was null and void and ordered that Browne return the land certificate to the Registrar of Lands. Browne has since appealed the decision, the PM said, but “his application for a stay was refused by the Court of Appeal.”

Additionally, he said, the High Court has also thrown out MP for St Peter Asot Michael’s claims that the search of his premises by police – regarding his alleged involvement in the IHI fraud – was illegal.

He then reminded the public that the “preliminary directions and a trial date are being awaited” for the ALP Leader Lester Bird, Michael and “others” with regards to the Lindquist Report, which implicates them in engaging in fraudulent transactions.

Spencer also announced that the preliminary directions and a trial date are also pending for the case involving the purchase of “beach Crown lands at a gross undervalue to a company owned by Lester Bird, Robin Yearwood, and Hugh Marshall.”

Turning his focus to the High Court matter involving MP for St John’s City South Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, in relation to fraudulent applications for passports, in which he certified knowing the applicants personally, Spencer noted that the court ruled that the police commissioner had legal authority to “institute summary criminal proceedings against the MP.”

He said the appeal has not yet been heard, but pointed out that “both the applicant and the woman who facilitated the use of her dead son’s birth certificate were found guilty by the court.”

Acknowledging that justice may be delayed, the PM assured the populace that it will not be denied.

“The process is slow, but I believe it is sure, and the leaders of the Labour Party will be brought to justice for the corruption and criminal abuse that marked their reign as the government for 28 years,” he said. “In all the confusion they are now creating, their real concern is not the interest of the people of Antigua & Barbuda.

“They know what is hanging over their heads. They want to stop every effort that the UPP government is making to ensure that justice is done. They are trying to save their skins by seeking fair or foul means to get back in power and cover their tracks. That is what they are about and they must not be allowed to succeed. As sure as night follows day, no matter how long it takes, justice will be done,” the prime minister added.

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