Bridgewater v Laing and Thompson (returning Officer)

• Jurisdiction: Bahamas
• Judge: Isaacs, J.
• Judgment Date: 11 December 2008
• Court: Supreme Court (Bahamas)
• Docket Number: 746 of 2007
• Date: 11 December 2008

Supreme Court

Isaacs, J.; Allen, Sr. J.

746 of 2007

Bridgewater

and

Laing and Thompson (returning Officer)

Appearances:

Mr. Philip Davis with Ms. Tamara Saunders and Ms. L. Adderley for the petitioner.

Mr. Frederick Smith with Mr. Robert Adams for the first respondent.

Mr. Leif Farquharson with Mr. G. Francis for the second respondent.

Election - Votes — Whether petitioner had the majority of lawful votes — Several votes challenged by both the petitioner and first respondent — Votes cast by several voters found to be unlawful — Election results arithmetically adjusted.

Isaacs, J.

1 After a parliamentary election in the Marco City Constituency (hereinafter called “Marco City”) on 2 May, 2007, the returning officer, Cecil Thompson, the second respondent, declared Zhavargo Laing, the first respondent, duly elected by a majority of 47 votes over Pleasant Bridgewater, the petitioner.

2 This Court was appointed and mandated by Article 51 of the Constitution to hear and determine, inter alia, whether any person has been validly elected in Marco City. Accordingly, this Court embarked on a trial, which spanned almost ten months. It was most demanding on the Court's time, that of Counsel and indeed the parties to this dispute. We publicly thank and congratulate all concerned for maintaining the appropriate decorum and the excellent scholarship which enured to the dignity, majesty and respect of this Court and its process.

3 This case, like all others, drives home the fact that the Court is the indefatigable defender of the Constitution of The Bahamas, the ultimate guardian of our democracy and has a sacred duty to courageously and properly interpret the law and assess all relevant facts to ensure justice is done.

4 The petitioner filed a petition pursuant to leave granted by the Supreme Court on 15 June, 2007 and after a part of the petition was struck out by this Court, it claims a declaration that the election of the first respondent was undue and void, a scrutiny of the votes cast on the ground the petitioner had a majority of the lawful votes and a declaration that she was duly elected and ought to have been returned as the member of Parliament for Marco City.

5 The petitioner's claim that she had the majority of lawful votes was based on allegations that persons had voted who were not citizens of The Bahamas on election day or were not on the day of election or at sometime during the six months immediately preceding that day, ordinarily resident in premises in Marco City pursuant to section 9(2) of The Parliamentary Elections Act (hereinafter the Act”). She filed her list pursuant to Rule 14(1) of the Election Court Rules (hereinafter “the Rules”) which includes the following names:

Maryann Cherfrere, Anthony John, Wesley Julmisse, Widline Lauriston, Aileen Letis, Adeline Laguerre, Ivena Louis-Chariot, Australia Zonicle, Keisha Fredericka Cooper, Nutal Kelly Smith, Jonnie Francois, Monica Augustin, Katherina Denice Baptiste, Valerie M. Oldfield-Smith, Chana Joseph, Lucas Lorenzo Lewis, Pauline Lewis, Johnnie Jean-Pierre, Jacquelyn Suzanne Astwood, Monique Patrice Astwood, Naomi Elizabeth Astwood, Eliza Smith, Erica Jennifer Bain, Ingrid Christina Bain, Bernice Melisa Geffrard, Obenson Geffrard, Aline Justilien Hippolyte, Georgette LaFrance, Leotha Louis, Sophia Laureen Muller, Gaynell Samantha Oliver, Soni Pierre, Marie Helene Raymonvil, Anton Maurice Roker, Patrea Nikith Bain, Siselda Marie Allen-Pennerman, Daniel Joseph, Brenda Louis, Sharmila Devi Pinder, Vercine Taylor, Carolyn Beatrice Pierre, Dulcie Elizabeth Garland, Chesley Baptiste, Deon Eric Brown, Sheila Mae Miller, Raphael Adolphus Whylly, Andrea Marie Grant, Calvin Joseph J. Hart IV, Derik Grant, Ellamae Hall, Marilyn Hall, Mary Eudane Johnson, Monique Rochelle Knowles, Roland George Rolle, Lloyd Everette Stubbs, Lloyd Everette Stubbs Jr., Nicola Beckles, Rochelle Antoinette Brown, Thomas Lorenzo Curry, Sherry Lee Taylor, Sheldon Simmons, Glenise Diana Thompson, Willy Andre, Kim Latasha Connolly, Analdo Glenwood Cooper, Jewel Elizabeth Hanna, Angela Augusta Knowles, Kate Valencia Lockhart, Vernal Alexander McKenzie, Dina Mae Nielsen, Stephanie Pierre, Latisha Zenobia Rolle, Francis St. Louis, Michael Edward Swann, Thereese Venesse Austin, Malinda Malisa Adderley, Shanica Estelle Culmer, Jervis Dirk Delancy, Ivy Louise Ewing King, Kyle Hanna, Shacara Madeana Laing, Natasha Melinda Lighbourne-Neely, Ruthmae Martin, Denise Racquel Neely, Earl Alexander Neely, Edward Williams, Charles Lowe, Javaughn Janado Lowe, Herman Anthony Roker, Carl Henry Neely, Edmund Alfred Campbell, Abraham Geoffrey Cooper, Sheena Antonia Missick, Tivona Charrell Martin, Tenesha Raquel Martin, Randy Winfield Nelson, Tanyah Jameilah Nelson, Rocher Jean Piere Jr., Sheryl Synetra Pierre, Mavis Thea Pinder, Keva Dordelia Powell, Delvado Danyell Robinson, Leya Lynette Robinson, Phaybin Livingston Rolle, Lola Louise Russell, Gilbert Monty Williams, Gloria Davis, Neko C. Grant II, Chadrick Dean Lewis, Natasha Maria Pelecanos, Joel Jerome Roger, Letoya Elesha Pinder, Florence McGregor, Vincent McGregor, Annette Patricia Hanna, Vanessa Pratt, Sasha Zonnell Simmons, Brian A. Toote, Yvette Shandle Ferguson, Connie Barbara A. Missick, Lewis Dennis Missick, Ivalee Udaine Pratt, Kriston R H Culmer, Christopher Wellington Neely, Juan Antonio Valdes, Micah Bryan Valdes, Susan Judymae Brown, Tanno Mellissa Gray, Toni Torrel Hudson, Anthony Albert Miller, Inez Charlton, Anna Valdes, Tramine Clinton, Luchana Clinton.

6 The first respondent also filed a list of votes he claimed were wrongly admitted and should be rejected and deducted from the votes counted. That list includes:

Boushoul Adderley, Florence Adderley, Samantha Bain, Shaniqua Bain, Katherina Baptiste, Rochelle Bosby, Clifford Brice, Allison Bridgewater, Peggy Bridgewater, Dentrie Burrows, De Angelo Carey, Dionne Carey, Chade Cooper, Monique Cooper, Nadia Cumberbatch, Desmond Dean Cuetell Ferguson, Kirkwood Ferguson, Deannar Forbes, Rejoina Forbes, Shantel Green, Flora Hinzey, Fredericka Hunt, Johnie Jean-Pierre, Terrance Johnson, Dudley Jones, Marisol Jones, Styles Kelly, Alfred Knowles, Althea Knowles, Jasmaine Knowles, Georgette LaFrance, Denise Lewis, Lucas Lewis, Pauline Lewis, Recko Lewis, Melanie Lowe, Adriana Mackey, Othneil Mackey, Christine Major, Elvis Martin, Jeff Mather, Kenva Mcdeigan, Florence Mcgregor, Islyn Mcintosh, Zenecar Mcintosh, Alice Miller, Barry Morris, Levonne Moxey, Shakisa Munroe, Carl Neely, Courtney Neely, Lashanda Neely, Penny Neely, Tamara Neely, Ingrid Newbold, Ricardo Newbold, Carl Nottage, Rochelle Nottage, Dino Pelecanos, William Percentie, Rashad Pinder, Reginald Pinder, Barbara Poitier, Barbara Reckley, Antoinette Richardson, Carol Richardson, Troy Rolle, Hubert Russell, Shelby Sands, Kimberley Sears, Lashunda Smith, Jean-Joseph Smith-Gentil, Shavonne Strachan, Sharmaine Seymour, Jondee Swann, Sherise Taylor, Blanche Turnquest, Sidnell Turnquest, Paul Tyrone, Makayla Whyms, Samuel Williams, Tammunique Williams, Diana Wilson, Kendall Young, Roger Ashin, Glenise Thompson, Vernal McKenzie, Widline Lauriston, Tenesha Martin, Tivona Martin, Leotha Louis, Kaloin Rolle, Angela Rogers, Eyvette Lewis, Delvado Robinson, Alyce Knowles.

7 The following voters were common to both lists:

Katherina Denice Baptiste, Johnnie Jean-Pierre, Widline Lauriston, Tivona Martin, Tenesha Martin, Pauline Lewis, Georgette Lafrance, Glenise Thompson, Florence McGregor, Carl Neely, Lucas Lewis, Leotha Louis, Delvado Danyell Robinson.

8 The Court is not required to make any determination as a result of the petitioner dropping her challenge in respect of each of the following voters:

Anthony John, Wesley Julmisse, Widline Lauriston, Aileen Letis, Adeline Laguerre, Australia Zonicle, Keisha Fredericka Cooper, Nutal Kelly Smith, Monica Augustin, Katherina Denice Baptiste, Valerie M. Oldfield-Smith, Chana Joseph, Jacquelyn Suzanne Astwood, Monique Patrice Astwood, Naomi Elizabeth Astwood, Eliza Smith, Erica Jennifer Bain, Ingrid Christina Bain, Bernice Melisa Geffrard, Obenson Geffrard, Georgette LaFrance, Leotha Louis, Sophia Laureen Muller, Gaynell Samantha Oliver, Soni Pierre, Marie Helene Raymonvil, Anton Roker, Patrea Nikith Bain, Siselda Marie Allen-Pennerman, Brenda Louis, Sharmila Devi Pinder, Vernice Taylor, Carolyn Beatrice Pierre, Chesley Baptiste, Sheila Mae Miller, Ellamae Hall, Mary Eudane Johnson, Monique Rochelle Knowles, Sherry Lee Taylor, Vernal Alexander McKenzie, Stephanie Pierre, Francis St. Louis, Michael Edward Swann, Thereese Venesse Austin, Ivy Louise Ewing King, Edward Williams, Carl Henry Neely, Abraham Geoffrey Cooper, Sheena Antonia Missick, Phaybin Livingston Rolle, Lola Louise Russell, Gloria Davis, Neko C. Grant II, Joel Jerome Roger, Letoya Elesha Pinder, Brian A. Toote, Connie Barbara A. Missick, Lewis Dennis Missick, Christopher Wellington Neely, Micah Bryan Valdes, Susan Judymae Brown, Anthony Albert Miller, Inez Charlton.

9 Similarly, the Court is not required to make any determination as a result of the first respondent dropping his challenge in respect of each of the following persons:

Katherina Denice Baptiste, Dentrie Harry Burrows, De Angelo Garth Wendall Carey, Dionne Carol Carey, Chade Cooper, Monique Villadale Cooper, Nadia Melba Alethia Cumberbatch, Desmond Dennis Dean, Cuetell Shandell Ferguson, Deannar Kendra Forbes, Rejoina Annett Forbes, Johnie Jean-Pierre, Terrance Johnson, Dudley Lewis Jones, Marisol Neiketta Jones, Styles Kelly, Alfred Jermaine Knowles, Althea Pricilla Knowles, Alyce Knowles, Jasmine Anica Knowles, Georgette LaFrance, Widline Lauriston, Eyvette Monique Lewis, Leotha Louis, Melanie Lavonda Lowe, Adriana Patrice Mackey, Othneil Barrington Mackey, Christine Dorothy Major, Elvis Presley Martin, Tenesha Racquel Martin, Tivona Channel! Martin, Jeff Mather, Kenva Margo Raquel Mcdeigan,...