Chief Minister Reuben Meade (file photo)

BRADES, Montserrat, CMC - The High Court here on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the recent election of Chief Minister Reuben Meade. 

Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave ruled that newspaper editor Bennette Roach did not satisfy the law in presenting his petition before the court on September 29. 

She agreed with the no case submissions filed by lawyers for Meade and the two other respondents - Supervisor of Elections Claudette Weekes and Returning Officer Sir Howard Fergus - that when the editor of the Montserrat Reporter submitted his petition he did not pay the EC$1200 (US$460) fee within three days as stipulated in the law and that the case should be thrown out. 

Roach, a failed independent candidate at the September 8 general election, contended that Meade was not eligible to contest the poll due to the alleged nature of his ties to a construction firm he formed several years ago.

The island’s constitution prohibits persons who are shareholders and directors of companies that have contracts with the government from contesting a seat in the legislature without first disclosing such interest at least one month prior to the election. 

However, Meade, who led the Movement for Change and Prosperity to a 6-3 triumph at the general election, has always maintained that he was duly qualified to contest the poll.

Electoral officials rejected two similar challenges against the validity of Meade’s candidacy during the campaign for the poll. 

When contacted by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) following the judge’s ruling, the Chief Minister declined to comment on the matter. 

CMC/bm/pr/09