ST JOHNS − Caught between retaining the colonial British Privy Council or replacing it with the modern-day Caribbean Court of Justice, Antigua & Barbudans turned out in low numbers to vote in historic referendum today.
Amid overcast conditions and intermittent drizzles, a trek of voters cast their ballots at 117 polling stations spread across the 16 constituencies in Antigua and the lone one on the sister island of Barbuda.
After 12 hours of voting, preliminary results up to 8 p.m. indicated support for a “No” vote to stay with the status quo as opposed to change to the Trinidad-based CCJ.
Fears of a “No” vote promoted the Gaston Browne-administration to abandon a similar campaign in 2016 but with a landslide victory at the polls in general elections last March, the government opted to flex its muscles to make Antigua & Barbuda become the fifth CARICOM country after Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Dominica to accept the CCJ as its final court.
However, with the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), which won one seat in the general elections, and the minority Democratic National Alliance (DNA) offering little or no support to the “Yes” campaign, it was a challenge to obtain the constitutional two-thirds majority the government needed to accede to the CCJ.
Another anti-CCJ group, a grouping of lawyers, trade unions and civic-minded people, campaign heavily against the regional court utilising social media as its main weapon.
Their campaign centred around the “poor conditions” of the lower courts and justice system “in terms of the physical amenities, case backlog, and inadequate access to justice for our people.”
The government-appointed National Coordinating Committee (NCC) had countered that the CCJ would improve the justice system in the country to do more for the lower courts that the Privy Council.
As voters cast the ballots, they had mixed reaction.
“Thumbs up,” said St Claire Philip, a contractor, showing off his index finger outside a polling station.
“I voting no,” said Mary Joseph, an elderly care worker.
“You all want me to vote . . . me nah vote yes,” said pensioner, Lillian Mannix, a pensioner got ready to vote.
“CCJ me ah go vote,” said Donna McCannon, a Caribbean national, eligible to vote.
As they counted up to press time, the “Yes” vote recorded 1739 support or 51 per cent while the “No” vote followed closely with 1 653 or 48.7 per cent. (CMC)
