Members of the Coaliation of Independents (COI) attempted to block the nomination of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate Sebas Bastian, claiming that he is not eligible.
However, Latrae Rahming, a spokesperson for the PLP, dismissed the COI’s objections, characterizing them as attempts to sow “chaos and confusion.”
The controversy unfolded at T.G. Glover Primary School, where COI Fort Charlotte candidate Daphaney Johnson and COI Leader Lincoln Bain challenged Bastian’s eligibility before the presiding officer claiming that he did not declare his interests in government contracts. Despite the challenge, Bastian secured his nomination for the PLP in the Fort Charlotte constituency.
Rahming said the PLP is satisfied that Bastian met all of the requirements for his nomination.
“We have just spoken to Val Grimes, the head of the PLP’s legal team,” Rahming said. “As you are aware that there was some protest by the COI and the PLP’s candidate Sebastian for Fort Charlotte. The campaign is satisfied that Mr. Sebastian meets all the requirements. He is nominated.
“We expect him to be on the ballot on May 12th, and there’s no concerns with his declaration.”
“…I think that this is consistent with the opposition to create chaos and confusion where possible. The PLP campaign remains focused and we expect on May 12th that Sebastian will deliver Fort Charlotte for the PLP.”
Bastian also addressed the matter after he was nominated.
“Obviously when we got there, we were just told that the COI candidate was nominating, and after waiting for about 20-30 minutes, we asked how long the process was going to be,” he told reporters when asked to the respond to the matter.
“We were told by the presiding officer that they (COI members) refused to leave the room, saying that they’re challenging my nomination. This was quite interesting, because you’re challenging my nomination, and I hadn’t even presented myself to nominate yet. [This] shows to the level of craziness, and these people are looking to be elected to public office, and this is the type of conduct that we absolutely don’t need.
“If there’s any dispute, we have a court of law, we have due process. We go through those channels, we don’t grand stand and try to look for five minutes of fame based on absolutely nothing.”
Bastian also responded to Bain’s public claims: “Then he’s on TV making all sorts of assertions,” Bastian continued. “I even heard a video saying, he claims I have a $50 million contract with the government. Well, Lincoln Bain, if I have a $50 million contract with the government, if you could find that, I’ll give you $5 million of it. Stop talking foolishness.”
