By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Attorney Leon ‘Chaku’ Symister has been reappointed as the opposition United Progressive Party’s representative to the Constituencies Boundaries Commission, amid growing debate over voter disparity across the constituencies in Antigua and Barbuda.
Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle announced his decision to retain Symister, citing his previous experience on the Commission and his legal expertise as crucial assets.
In a press release issued yesterday, Pringle expressed confidence that Symister “will properly advocate for the stated objectives of the Commission, which include achieving voter parity, and will advance the push for true democracy in election outcomes”.
Symister, who is set to be receive his official instruments of appointment from Governor General Sir Rodney Williams at 10:45 am today, has already highlighted several challenges facing the Commission, including the lack of dedicated staff, office space, or resources for public consultation.
Speaking on Observer media’s Big Issues last Sunday, he argued that the Commission “should no longer be treated as a stepchild of the Constitution”, and should have its own budget and infrastructure in order to operate effectively as an independent body.
“We have a Commission that doesn’t have a Facebook page, without a webpage, without any direct link with the population with whom it has to consult before any recommendations can be made,” he stated.
Symister also raised concerns about the Commission’s ability to effect meaningful change without current census data.
He noted that “any real reform of our boundaries” required an updated census report, taking into consideration that the last population census was conducted in 2011.
He also noted that the constitutional structure itself may impede true reform, suggesting that, “if we were to have a Commission that is nonpartisan rather than bipartisan going in the future, we may be able to get things done in a better way and reduce the possibility of gerrymandering”.
In addition to Symister, the newly installed Constituencies Boundaries Commission is comprised of Danley Phillip as Chairman, Claire Chastanet and Billy Benjamin who were appointed by the government.
