By Theresa Goodwin
The declaration by the High Court to strike down attempts by the executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to discipline embattled St Peter Member of Parliament Asot Michael should be regarded as a lesson for other members of the ruling party.
Michael made that declaration days after Justice Jan Drysdale declared that two “purported” disciplinary tribunals engaged to deal with the complaints against him were illegally appointed and their decisions were therefore null and void.
The court also ruled that the ABLP disciplinary tribunal was unlawfully constituted in breach of the provisions of the ABLP’s Constitution.
“This is not a celebration for Asot Michael, it is a message and a lesson that we, Antiguans, must learn, the members of the Labour Party and the rank and file. Today is Asot’s day, tomorrow who will it be?” Michael told Observer yesterday.
“Who will the bell toll for that Gaston Browne will decide he does not want to run on his ticket? All of a sudden, the house of labour is no longer a house of labour for all its membership.”
Michael’s legal troubles began in 2017 when Prime Minister Gaston Browne revoked his appointment from the Cabinet pending the outcome of his arrest by Metropolitan police in London for alleged bribery.
His relationship with the party worsened following the declaration by the Prime Minister that he will no longer represent the interest of the party in any future elections. This led to the party announcing Rawdon Turner as his replacement.
This particular case to stop the disciplinary proceedings dates back to 2020 when the Court granted injunctive relief to Michael on at two separate occasions, restraining the ABLP’s effort to prevent him from functioning as the duly elected parliamentary representative of the Constituency of St Peter.
Michael said while he is vindicated by the court ruling, it is not a time for celebration.
“This judgment provides vital information for the survival and success of our nation. The evidence clearly shows that people within the leadership of the party are obliged to hold, apply and obey the constitution, and instead they have trampled upon the constitution and the rights of all members of the party,” Michael said.
However,anExecutive Member of the ABLP, Lionel “Max” Hurst is of the view that this latest court ruling does not change anything.
“The Constitution says that any member of the party who chooses to run on another party’s ticket, or is running as an independent candidate, that person is automatically expelled from the party. Expulsion is automatic,” Hurst told Observer.
In response, Michael said that based on the actions of the ABLP, he had no choice but to contest the upcoming general elections as an independent candidate.
Meanwhile, in a release issued late yesterday, the ABLP Chairman E Paul “Chet” Greene, said that the legitimate representation of the Party in the Constituency of St Peter is “in no way affected” by a decision of the Court in relation to Michael, and that the ABLP’s candidate remains Rawdon Turner “who enjoys the full support of the Party”.
“While the decision of the Court is fully respected, the reality is that the Party has already taken all the necessary steps to handle the matter, concerning Mr Asot Michael, in accordance with its internal arrangements,” Greene said.
“In this sense, events have overtaken the proceedings of the case, and Mr Michael has won no victory and the ABLP’s decision on its candidate cannot be overturned,” he added.
About The Author
