The swearing-in of Randy Baltimore as the newly elected parliamentary representative for St. Philip’s North has been postponed to next Friday after an election petition was filed in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court challenging the outcome of last Monday’s by-election.

The petition, filed on March 20 by UPP Mobilisation Officer George Wehner, argues that Baltimore was not legally qualified to contest the seat, claiming he remained a public officer at the time of his nomination.

According to the filing, correspondence from the Public Service Commission dated March 19 indicated that Baltimore submitted a resignation letter intended to take effect on February 20. However, the Commission reportedly found the resignation defective under Civil Service Regulation No. 28(1), which requires at least three months’ notice. The Commission instead terminated his employment on March 9.

Wehner contends that Baltimore was still a public officer on Nomination Day, making his candidacy unlawful and the election result invalid.

The case mirrors a 2023 election petition brought by the ABLP against UPP MP for St Mary’s South Kelvin “Shugy” Simon, who was also challenged over his status as a civil servant at the time of nomination. That matter was later dismissed after Simon resigned as MP before the court concluded its hearing.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking on his Browne and Browne programme on Saturday, confirmed the delay but dismissed the legal challenge.

“It is a frivolous litigation and that is going nowhere,” he said, urging the public to disregard the matter.

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan also described the petition as frivolous and vexatious, noting that questions surrounding a public servant’s resignation fall within the authority of the employer.

Baltimore, a former customs officer with nearly 30 years of service, won the March 16 by-election with 924 votes, or about 69 percent of ballots cast. UPP candidate Alex Browne received 407 votes.

He secured all seven polling divisions, with his strongest performances recorded in Willikies and Newfield.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation and retirement of Sir Robin Yearwood on February 18, marking 50 years since his first election to the seat. Yearwood was the longest-serving legislator in the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, having been elected to Parliament 11 consecutive times.

Browne said Baltimore’s swearing-in is expected to proceed on Friday as planned.