Suffrage
Universel
le droit de vote des
étrangers
Qualification for registration and right to vote.
16. (1) Subject to this Act and any enactment imposing any disqualification for registration as an elector, a person is qualified to be registered as an elector for a constituency if, on the qualifying date he –
(a) is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda; or
(b) is a Commonwealth citizen (other than a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda) who has resided in Antigua and Barbuda for a period of at least three years immediately before the qualifying date; or
(c) is a citizen of any other country other than a Commonwealth country who has resided in Antigua and Barbuda for at least seven years immediately before the qualifying date; and
(d) is 18 years of age or over;
(e) has resided in that constituency for a period of at least one (1) month before that qualifying date.
(...)
The Bill before the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda on Electoral Reform seeks to introduce a wide range of amendments to the Representation of the People Act in an effort to address the many recommendations that have been made by the Supervisor of Elections, by the Commonwealth Observer Group and by other interested parties. The Bill seeks to repeal sections 3 to 42, 83 and 84 of the Representation of the People Act and to replace the same with a more modern electoral system.
The salient features of the Bill are as follows:
(...)
2. Qualification for Registration and Right to Vote
(i) A person is qualified to be registered as an elector for a constituency if on the qualifying date he
- is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda; or
- is a Commonwealth citizen (other than a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda) who has resided in Antigua and Barbuda for a period of at least three (3) years before the qualifying date; and
- is eighteen (18) years of age or over; and
- has resided in that constituency for a period of at least one (1) month before the qualifying date.
Junior Minister of Information Rupert
Sterling has resigned from the Senate and his ministerial position.
In his letter, Mr Sterling explained that in light of the commencement
of legal proceedings for a declaration to determine whether or not his
position as a Member of the Senate contravenes any of the provisions of
the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, he considered it within the
best interest of the country that he relinquish his position as a
Member of the Upper House.
On 9th May, Attorney General Mrs. Gertel Thom filed an application in
the High Court for a declaration that Rupert Sterling and Linton Thomas
of Barbuda were not validly appointed as Senators because they hold
dual citizenships.
The order called for both men to vacate their seats and
further restrain them from sitting or continuing to sit in the Senate.
Sterling and Thomas are citizens of the United States of America.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Bird, Sterling also said
that he is firm in his belief that he has not contravened any law by
sitting in the Upper House of Parliament. He said that he plans to
clearly establish this beyond any doubt by the use of the Judicial
System.
Mr Sterling added that he believes that the Court is the appropriate
forum for such a declaration, but he also recognises that it will take
some time. He said that during the period leading up to the matter
being heard in the courts, he does not consider it proper for him to be
performing the duties of a Senator while he is defending the validity
of his appointment as one.
He thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to have served the
country for the past four years.