Juliet Benjamin is the newest member on the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission.
Benjamin, a teacher of over 31 years and media worker for almost two decades was nominated by the leader of the opposition, United Progressive Party’s (UPP) and will replace Generis Robinson.
On Friday, Benjamin received the instrument of appointment from the acting Governor General Sir Clare Roberts at Government House.
“I am elated to be appointed. I have been at the forefront of politics for a long time. I would consider myself to be a political animal. I am very interested in politics and what happens in the country. I am looking forward and I am up to the task. I actually worked there before when we were registering for the card back in 2003 as a trainer and up to last year I substituted as a scrutineer,” Benjamin said.
The appointment is for seven years, or until the age of 75, whichever comes first for Benjamin.
“I see my role as a vanguard of democracy and the electoral process in particular, and am looking forward to working with the other commissioners to make the process even better,” she added.
The electoral commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of election procedures and to perform election-related activities in an orderly manner.
The commission is headed by Chairman Nathaniel “Paddy” James. The deputy chairman is Gary Peters.
James, Anthonyson King and John Jarvis are the nominees of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Peters, and Benjamin are the two appointees of the UPP, while commissioner Paula C M Lee was nominated the Antigua Christian Council and the United Evangelical Association and commissioner Jeanette Charles was nominated jointly by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Antigua and Barbuda Employers Federation.
When asked to give her thoughts on the Caribbean Court of Justice ahead of the upcoming November referendum, Benjamin stated that her initial thoughts have changed.
“I attended the first CCJ consultation at the Multipurpose Cultural Centre. It was skewed, but, I think since then a lot has happened to even it up, even though the balance will always be tilted on the side of the government because they have more resources than any opposition would have. But the voices speaking out against the CCJ have become strident. I think everyone in Antigua has just about made up his or her mind,” Benjamin said.