By Robert Andre Emmanuel
The United Progressive Party (UPP) has ordered its legal team to challenge the Development Control Agency (DCA) over its demolition of a political billboard last week.
The billboard, which was located on the property of UPP Senator Jonathan Joseph, displayed an image of Global Bank of Commerce CEO Brian Stuart-Young whose company has faced questions about Barbuda funds and a legal challenge from Jack Stroll.
Last Monday, the Town and County Planner Frederick Southwell issued a letter to the UPP’s General Secretary, Senator Shawn Nicholas, which stated that “all political material should be removed within 14 days following the election”.
Southwell, in the letter, said that the UPP contravened its agreement by keeping up the political material, which the DCA claimed had just come to their attention.
On Saturday, Senator Joseph, whose billboard was removed on Thursday, claimed that there was a double standard within the DCA in addressing political billboards.
“What happened to free speech in this country? What happened to fair play because if my billboard is there and just a few yards down, my opponent’s billboard is there. His billboard has stayed up since 2018 with his [political] poster until the elections when they put up a new one,” Senator Joseph said.
He added that matter was now in the hands of his lawyers as he claimed that the removal of his billboard was tantamount to ‘silencing’ him.
“Nobody can tell me when to speak; nobody can tell me what to say and how to say it,” he said.
Video published online showing the demolition of the billboard by media house, Real News Antigua, also showed the billboard of Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph, displaying political advertising erected during the last general election was left standing.
“The bottom line is what goes for one must go for all,” Senator Joseph said. “If my billboard is going to come down, then everybody’s billboard should come down.”
Previously, the MP for St Mary’s South Kelvin Simon also expressed anger over the removal of his billboard cover at his branch office.
Yesterday, the UPP’s legal advisor Leon Symister told Observer media about the legal challenge expressed by several members of the political party.
“We’re going to seek judicial review of the decision of the DCA to destroy the party’s billboard, which was carrying an image of Senator Jonathan Joseph and a message from the party.
“We’ll also be seeking damages for the destruction of our property. We believe firmly believe that the decision of the DCA was politically directed and very discriminatory. We are unaware that anywhere in the Physical Planning Act of a condition given by the DCA can be applicable to one party and not all parties or persons similarly situated,” Symister stated.
He claimed that although the letter was dated March 25, the party only received it on Wednesday March 27—one day before the DCA removed the billboard.
Symister added that the move was “arbitrary and capricious” stating that the UPP was given no time to appeal the decision.