Alister Thomas to Challenge ABEC’s Picture List Ruling

The legal advisor for the United Progressive Party (UPP) has announced plans to appeal a recent High Court decision that denied access to the 2023 voters picture list. The appeal is being made on the basis of promoting electoral transparency.

During an appearance on Observer AM, UPP’s legal advisor, Leon ‘Chaku’ Symister, who is advocating for St John’s City West caretaker Alister Thomas, initiated the case under the Freedom of Information Act after the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission denied access to the picture list.

The Electoral Commission maintained that limiting access was essential to prevent identity theft, protect individuals from potential harassment, and restrict unauthorized tracking of voter movements.

Justice Jan Drysdale, in her ruling, sided with the Commission, emphasizing that privacy concerns took precedence over the benefits of public disclosure.

She noted that there have been instances in the Caribbean where individuals’ photographs were misused, which raised concerns about voter information security and could ultimately reduce public trust in the electoral process.

However, Symister contended that the judgment contains “appeal reversible errors” and indicated that the UPP intends to challenge the ruling through various judicial avenues.

“We will file our notice of appeal within the 42-day timeframe,” he remarked, with the possibility of escalating the case to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal and potentially the Privy Council. He also expressed that withholding the list could actually diminish public trust, saying, “Not publishing the list makes people wonder, ‘What do you have to hide?’”