Rawlins handed down his ruling from the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court located in St Lucia when he read from a 10-page judgment highlighting the main issues arising out of the case.
He found that Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer in St John’s Rural West, John Maginley in St John’s Rural North and Dr Quinn-Leandro in St George were validly elected.
The ruling of the Court of Appeal is final, since under Antigua and Barbuda law there is only one appeal in election petitions.
According to reports, Prime minister, Spencer said that the government now has to get on with the job of “Delivering for and behalf of the people of Antigua”.
The ALP had brought election petitions against the trio of ministers before Justice Louise Blenman, who on the 31st March found that the elections were not properly conducted and ruled that the three seats be deemed vacant. Shortly after the ruling of Justice Blenman, the UPP obtained a stay of the decision and filed an appeal.
The appeal was successful and, as a result, the judge’s order was vacated and therefore Spencer, Maginley and Quinn-Leandro retain their seats and their ministries.