It may have gotten lost in the headlines but last week's battle between the "Old PUP" and the "New PUP" all started on July 9th when the Ministry of National Development refused to accept proxies in the National Free Zone Association's election. That hard line cost the incumbent Winston Smiling his seat and maybe his pride because the former acting chairman finished dead last.
Smiling's application for leave to seek judicial review of the conduct of the election was heard today in the Supreme Court. Fred Lumor appeared for Smiling, and resigned director Gulab Sharma and others. They are asking Supreme Court Judge Samuel Awich to issue an injunction barring the new board from operating until the July 9th election is reviewed.
Today attorney for the Corozal Free Zone and the Ministry of National Development Lois Young made a two prong attack on Smiling's application. She asked Justice Awich to remove Gulab Sharma's name off the application because he wasn't adversely affected by the elections. In fact Young says the election was favorable towards Sharma since he was actually elected. Sharma did later resign in protest. Awich will issue his decision on Monday.
