Yellowman May Face Consequences for Obstruction

Our news team stumbled upon an unexpected confrontation yesterday while covering another story in Mesopotamia. A field visit by an Elections and Boundaries Department registration officer turned contentious, with UDP’s Brian “Yellowman” Audinette at the center of the dispute. Now, questions are being raised about whether his actions could have consequences. Shane Williams reports.

 

Brian Audinette, UDP Operative, Mesopotamia

“And you see how she come and the husband just say up there, none of them live ya just now. So how them wa come the register people ya?”

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

We happened upon one of those voter registration disputes while in Mesopotamia, right at the corner of Iguana and Bocotora Streets. UDP operative Brian “Yellowman” Audinette stepped in to challenge what he believed was an unlawful registration taking place. But Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai says there are established channels for raising those concerns, and taking matters into your own hands isn’t one of them. Tamai says to file an objection “the elector shall deliver to the registering officer a notice of objection in Form 14A of the Representation of the People Act stating the grounds for the objection. This must be done by the 25th of the month. Thereafter, a revision court will be held before the end of the month where the revising officer who is the Magistrate will hear the case and make a determination if the name is to remain or be removed from the list.” But Audinette chose to intervene directly.

 

Brian Audinette

“That noh fi happen. That noh wah happen under my watch.”

 

While Audinette says he stepped in to stop what he believed was an illegal voter registration, a crime punishable by a fine or even jail time, his own actions may now be attracting scrutiny as a possible violation of the law.

 

The Chief Elections Officer says the department is taking the matter seriously since no member of the public should interfere with the work of registering officers. Any person who wishes to object must follow the process for objections as the process is clearly written in the Representation Of the People’s Act and action will be taken against anyone who interferes or obstruct officers from carrying out their duties.

 

Brian Audinette

“Unu noh wa register nobody ya like that. Unu noh wah come with no illegal registration ya.”

 

For many observers, the issue transcends party lines. They say both parties are guilty of the practice and both should be held accountable. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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