Ramsey-Hale deliberates on TCI election ruling

(CNS): Cayman's former chief magistrate isdeliberating on a ruling in the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding a challenge made by a candidate for the Cheshire Hall- Richmond Hill seat which went to Amanda Misick (PNP) in the recent general election. Justice Margaret Ramsey-Hale who is now a high court judge in TCI is deliberating on a dispute between Oral Selver (PDM) who lost the seat by 30 votes in November 's national poll. Selver claims that the third  candidate in the district race is a US Citizen and was not qualified. Had he not run the 58 votes he polled may have gone to Selver giving him the seat.

According to the local press Misick applied to have the petition filed by Selver struck out on the basis of disclosing no cause of action. She claims the petition was misconceived as the question of the validity of the nomination of the candidate in question Edward Smith was different to the question of whether a member was validly elected and if Smith was disqualified from being elected it didn't mean the votes he got didn't count.

The General Election was won by the PNP with eight seats just one more than the PDM which won seven. Should Justice Ramsey-Hale come down in favour of the petition, leading to a trial. The possibly of a by-election in the district could tip the government to the PDM .

Justice Ramsey was expected to deliver the ruling this lunchtime but has since stated that she will be taking more time to consider the arguments.