As the pollical atmosphere continues to heat up in St Mary’s South constituency ahead of the pending by-election, a senior member of one of the rival parties is appealing to residents and others to conduct a clean campaign.

Political Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Jamale Pringle is appealing to people to rise to the occasion this time around and refrain from the derogative behaviors of the past and campaign on policies.

“It is important for us to mature to this level. It is important for people to have meaningful dialogue with persons wanting to represent them as to why because it is clear after ten years what can you tell me,”

“It is a lot more than just getting on the campaign trail at an event. It is really a situation and an opportunity we get to sell the policies of the United Progressive Party to show the people how important it is for them to be a part of the democratic process because of late our democratic rights are being hampered,” Pringle said.

He was speaking on the heels of a victory in the High Court surrounding the election petition case challenging the nomination for former St Mary’s South MP Kelvin “Shugy” Simon.

High Court Judge, Justice Jan Drysdale yesterday dismissed the case after ruling that Simon’s resignation has rendered the petition academic, and based on the petitioner’s pleadings, there were no justiciable issues left for trial.

Petitioner Cosworth Aaron had asked the court to declare that Simon was invalidly nominated and that the votes he received at the January 18 elections were void.

This means that Simon and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s Senator Samantha Marshall will face each other again in a by-election.

Meanwhile, Pringle said the outcome of the pending by-election is very important to the opposition party.

He said he knows for a fact that the ruling party will fight fiercely, however, he is prepared to do whatever it takes to, as the political leader, ensure that the party regains the constituency.

“I am not going to leave any stones unturned. I have commissioned a group of people to manage the list in St Mary’s South. While the MP is out there, there is going to be a team minding the list.

“We are clear, I am not a veteran to say but this is not my first election, and the only thing that I know about election and contesting election is to win and my record will show,” he asserted.

The court agreed with arguments that as a result of Simon’s resignation, the ruling would no longer affect him since he has ceased to be a member of parliament.

The judge added it was not for the court to decide who should fill the vacancy but that a by-election should proceed as prescribed by the constitution of Antigua & Barbuda.

Justice Drysdale has reserved her judgment after hearing arguments on the matter Monday.

Hugh Marshall Jr led the attorneys for the Petitioner and Kendrickson Kentish led Simon’s legal team.