APR 24

His Excellency the Governor General Sir. Daniel Williams has revoked the appointment of two Returning Officers who served during the November 27 2003 General Elections.

The decision of the Governor General was made known to the two by Supervisor of Elections School Principal Victor Ashby over the week-end and during the beginning of the week.

The Returning Officers have been identified as David Flemming for the constituency of St. David and Delano Viechweg for St. Patrick's-East. Sources told GRENADA TODAY that Brenda Samerson the Returning Officer for the constituency of Carriacou and Petit Martinique tendered her resignation on Monday.

Samerson was involved in a litigation with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the constituency of Carriacou and Petit Martinique George Prime following the outcome of the 2003 polls.

Prime, who lost the seat by a mere seven votes to Foreign Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod of the New National Party (NNP) claimed several irregularities. In the case of Viechweg, he was also part of a suit filed by the defeated NNP candidate Adrian Mitchell who lost to Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas of the NDC.

Supervisor of Elections Victor Ashby told GRENADA TODAY on Wednesday that he could not give reasons for Sir. Daniel's decisions. He said however that appointments of Returning Officers are for a specific period and for a specific year according to the section 29 (1) of the Representations of the Peoples Act.

According to the section of the Act the Governor General in his/her own deliberate judgement appoint people to those positions for a certain period of time. On Wednesday three new persons were sworn in and presented with their Instruments of Appointment by Sir Daniel.

Sammerson is replaced by former Principal of the Dover Government School Dominic Mc. Farlene, Viechweg by Banker Lethon Herry and Fleming by Education Officer Vincent Morain. Meanwhile the opposition NDC held a news conference on Wednesday to address the issue.

Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas told reporters he is concerned about the arbitrary removal of the two Returning officers. He believes that a report on the outcome of the 2003 polls should have been made public before any action is taken.

Thomas is calling for the Electoral Office to be independent and that the position of Supervisor of Elections be made permanent saying if this was so then what had transpired at the November 27 polls would not have occurred.

He said that he hold no briefs for the two Returning Officers but that the way they were removed is setting a dangerous precedence for the democratic process in the country.

Deputy political leader of the NDC George Prime who spoke at the news conference noted that their intention is not to attack the Governor General's decision.
He wondered as to the reason for their removal after Ashby was in the media praising electoral officials for the way they conducted their duty after last year's polls.