KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Luke Browne, the candidate of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate accused of election fraud by his New Democratic Party (NDP) counterpart today said he will write to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking to have his accuser prosecuted.
“Accordingly, I intend to write the Director of Public Prosecutions to have (Vynette) Frederick prosecuted because the statements and allegations made against me are patently false,” he said.
Browne said he would not allow his reputation to be attacked in such a manner.
“This NDP cancer of liars and deliberate lies must stop. We cannot permit this factory of misinformation and lies to continue and go unanswered. I am determined to ensure that Miss Frederick faces the legal consequences for her false statements and dishonest conduct towards me. Enough is enough!’” he said.
The ULP said that the accusations by Frederick an attorney and the NDP public relations officer and candidate for West St. George “could land her in jail and cause her to be barred from participating in the general elections” on December 13.
Frederick accused Browne, who were both guests on a local radio station earlier this week, of being involved in alleged illegal registration of voters in East Kingstown, which is represented by NDP president and Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace.
She repeated the accusation on two other radio stations and her party in a subsequent press release, listed three cases in which it said that Browne “illegally transported registered voters living in other constituencies into the constituency of East Kingstown….”.
The NDP further said it had “sworn evidence” that Browne on four occasions knowingly transported a resident of Central Kingstown to be registered in East Kingstown.
But the ULP in a statement on Saturday said “Ms Frederick has ‘falsely accused’ ULP candidate Luke Browne of several criminal offences and of disgraceful conduct”, adding, “…the ULP maintains that Ms Frederick did so ‘without providing a shred of evidence.
“The allegations were echoed by NDP party leader Arnhim Eustace who held a quickly arranged press conference following Frederick’s claims on radio. Mr. Eustace too, fell short of presenting any evidence whatsoever whether material or documentation or otherwise,” the ULP said.
The ULP said that Browne, who has “ flatly denied” the allegations, “says that he has been advised by his legal team that Ms. Frederick has contravened the provisions of section 51(3) of Representation of the People Act and is guilty of an illegal election practice prohibited by the Parliament of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines”.
Section 51 (3) of the Representation of the People Act states that “any person who, before or during an election, for the purpose of affecting the return of any candidate or prospective candidate at such election, makes or publishes any false statement in fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of such candidate is guilty on an illegal practice and liable to fine of seven hundred and fifty dollars and to imprisonment for a year.” (CMC)