Attorneys for ALP members hopes for dismissal

by in Eastern Caribbean, News

St. John’s, Antigua: Attorneys representing the six Antigua Labour Party (ALP) members charged for inciting are hoping to have the case against their clients dismissed, according to a report in the Antigua Observer.
Opposition Leader and head of the ALP Lester Bird; St Peter Member of Parliament, Asot Michael; Parliamentary Representative for St John’s City West and Deputy Political Leader and Chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), Gaston Browne; ALP St Paul representative, Paul “Chet” Greene; General Secretary for the party, Mary Claire Hurst and ALP Executive Member, Carlton Lake, are charged jointly for inciting, organising and taking part in a march in contravention of the Public Order Act, the Observer reported.
The case was set to commence yesterday. However, attorney John Fuller asked that the three charges not be put to the defendants at this stage. He argued that the ALP members are unaware of the reasons they are before the court and the charges do not disclose what part of the permit the defendants are in contravention of.
Section 12 Cap 357 of the Public Order Act gives the Commissioner of Police the authority to grant or refuse a permit. The Commissioner determines the time, route and any such terms and conditions that he deems necessary once permission is granted.
The Observer said that Police Prosecutor ASP, Albert Chastanet, in reply said that the particulars of the offence will be revealed as the trial unfolds. He likened the charges to one of indecent language and added that when a person is charged with this offence, the “bad word” that is used is not mentioned in the charge, but only revealed when the facts are given.
Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh is expected to render her decision tomorrow when the case resumes.
The six ALP members are alleged to have incited persons to take part in a march in contravention of a permit dated February 11, 2011, granted on behalf of the ALP by Commissioner of Police, Vere Browne. The march was held on March 10 and moved off from Michael’s Mount, the Observer report said.