| Supporters Follow Petition Case from Outside the Courtroom |
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Suppoerts outside of the courthouse |
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As the first week of the Election Petition case wraps up in court, a small group of supporters of the petitioner Hon. Mark Brantley watch on keenly from the outside.
Some supporters turned up every day since Monday while some have shown their support more sporadically as their schedules permit. The supporters and onlookers sat quietly at the Memorial Square as they watch witnesses and other players in the case go in and out. Some questioned persons exiting the courthouse in attempts to get updates on the trial.
The saga began on July 11 when Nevis held its local election and over 200 Nevisians reportedly had their names removed from the voters list and thus were turned away at the polls. Brantley, the Concerned Citizens Movement Deputy Leader, filed a petition on August 3, 2011 citing irregularities in the July 11 election, calling on the court to nullify the results in Nevis #2 where he lost to NRP’s Hon. Hensley Daniel by 14 votes. Brantley, in a previous interview with The Observer, encouraged Nevisians to “come to Charlestown in your numbers and listen to this case”.
“It is a matter which has far reaching implications for democracy and free and fair election in Nevis and elsewhere in the region,” he said.
A Hanley’s road residents said that she was there to see what was going on because she felt the election was unfair. She claimed her daughter was one whose name was removed.
“People had the right to vote and I feel like it was a bias that some people name came off the voters list,” she said.
“I feel hurt and disappointed in the system and how far people are willing to go to try to win. If they had won by being fair, it would have been okay but when you have to take off people name to win it becomes unfair to people.”
She indicated that her daughter was registered and living in St. Johns parish, and had voted in there in the past in. her daughter was one of the witnesses for the petitioner.
One man told The Observer that Thursday was his third day outside the court and he would likely be back for the duration of the trial.
“I was here Monday, Wednesday and today (Thursday). I am here to support the petitioner Mr. Brantley in his quest to bring back decency to this country of mine,” he said.
He said that he has seen “disfranchised” persons go into the court to testify and it seemed to him that all went well.
“Once they tell the truth, no lawyer should make them make any mistake. The truth will prevail,” he said.
One lady from the St James area said that she was there to support her CCM party.
“If we don’t win this case, this country is doomed, Nevis will never be the same,” she said.
Several supporters of the NRP also gathered outside the courthouse. According to at least three of them, Brantley was losing the case.
“They say people not going to testify and those that testified couldn’t answer the lawyers’ questions. Trouble in de camp!” one lady said. |
