Witnesses called to defend Prime Minister Dr. Lorraine Friday and Member of Parliament Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble have delivered damaging testimony that bolsters arguments to invalidate their election wins, in a dramatic reversal during ongoing constitutional hearings in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The election petition, filed by Augustus Carlos Williams and Luke Browne, challenges whether Dr. Friday and Mr. Bramble are eligible to hold their seats in the Northern Grenadines and East Kingstown Constituency, arguing both are disqualified because they hold Canadian citizenship.
During cross-examination on Thursday, Alexandra Cyrus, a witness for Bramble, admitted under oath that she was part of a group that distributed formal notices through East Kingstown communities warning voters that Mr. Bramble's ballot would be a "wasted vote" due to his Canadian citizenship. When shown photographs, Cyrus identified herself in the images and confirmed she handed out the material on behalf of Luke Browne, the rival candidate.
In the same session, Desiree Davis, a witness supporting Dr. Friday, testified that she was aware of public warnings about Dr. Friday's Canadian citizenship before voting. She acknowledged understanding that her vote would be legally wasted if Dr. Friday was disqualified, yet voted for her anyway.
Legal analysts say these admissions significantly strengthen the petitioners' position. Under the "wasted vote" principle in election law, if voters receive clear and timely notice of a candidate's disqualification before casting ballots, votes for that candidate are treated as null and void.
The case now turns on constitutional interpretation. The court must decide whether Canada qualifies as a "foreign power or state" under Section 26(1) of the Constitution, which disqualifies anyone under allegiance to a foreign power. Both Dr. Friday and Mr. Bramble have publicly acknowledged holding Canadian citizenship.
If the court rules against the respondents, it may declare the two seats vacant, triggering by-elections, or award the seats to the runners-up under the wasted votes principle. Both sides closed their cases, and the hearing resumes November 10, 2026, for oral submissions.
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