“Legal alternatives” are being explored over the polling station for an upcoming by-election, because of its association with the Progressive Labour Party’s candidate for the seat, the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday.

Jarion Richardson also appealed to the Reverend Emily Gail Dill, of the PLP, to refuse the use of the venue for the by-election for Sandys North on October 4.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Richardson said: “While Dr Dill considers this appeal, we will continue to investigate legal alternatives.”

He said the legal process was being studied by the Opposition since it raised objections to the by-election’s use of the Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church Hall in Sandys as the polling venue.

He added: “Obviously, it gained seriousness once we realised that we would be unable to resolve the matter through a letter to Government House.”

Mr Richardson alleged that Dr Dill lives at the church, where she is a minister and her husband is the pastor

Asked if he was confident that Dr Dill would consider his appeal, Mr Richardson said he had spoken to her in the past and hoped that she would take the appeal “seriously”.

He said the criteria for a free and fair election could not be met when an electoral candidate had a close connection to the polling place.

He said although there might be no intent to influence, the mere appearance that influence could take place could call into question the integrity of the by-election.

The One Bermuda Alliance has requested that the venue be changed by the Parliamentary Registrar.

Mr Richardson said on September 19 that he had been notified by Rena Lalgie, the Governor, that she had carefully considered the matter, obtained legal advice and sought feedback from the by-election candidates.

He said the Governor concluded that she had no power to change the polling place and had been advised that the Parliamentary Registrar had no power to nominate an election room.

In response to Mr Richardson’s comments on legal alternatives, the PLP called the move “misinformation and distraction tactics”.

The governing party said it was “deeply rooted in the Sandys community”, and added that the only place in Sandys where the polling station could be located “without some sort of PLP connection is the former America’s Cup village”.

The OBA was accused of spending millions on the site while refusing to raise seniors’ pensions, cutting scholarships and pushing government workers to accept furlough days.

The party statement accused the OBA leadership of lacking experience, saying it should have been recognised that the selection of polling stations lay solely under the remit of the Parliamentary Registrar according to the Parliamentary Election Act 1978.

It accused the Opposition of engaging in “cheap political stunts” over the issue.

In a statement last week, Ms Lalgie said on August 22, after advice from the Parliamentary Registrar, that she had issued a writ of election, which appointed the church hall as the election room for the Constituency 36 by-election.

She added: “The Allen Temple AME Church Hall met the criteria for election rooms as set out in 27(6) of the Parliamentary Election Act 1978.

“At that time, neither the Parliamentary Registrar nor the Governor had access to any information that would have given rise to any concerns about the neutrality or fairness of that venue.

“The Leader of the Opposition has made public that he wrote to me on September 11 to object to the election room given the nature and degree of the association with one of the individuals who had at that point indicated their intent to stand.

“Since then, I have received legal advice and sought feedback from the individuals who, prior to Nomination Day, publicly indicated their intention to stand and therefore have unquestionable standing. More generally, I have carefully considered the objection.”

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