Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – May 30, 2025 — The Supreme Court has upheld the narrow one-vote victory of Kimbule Audric Skippings in The Bight constituency, bringing an end to weeks of legal uncertainty following the February 7 general election.
Skippings, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate, secured 359 votes to Progressive National Party (PNP) candidate Matthew ‘Jay’ Stubbs’ 358—making it the closest race in the country’s 2025 election. The ruling, delivered by Supreme Court Judge Chris Selochan, dismissed all claims made by Stubbs, who had contested the result on multiple grounds.
In the petition, Stubbs’ legal team, led by King’s Counsel Ariel Misick, argued that the election was compromised by procedural irregularities. Among the claims were that polling stations opened late, some voters used certified copies of ID instead of originals, and that the polling station door was improperly reopened to allow an individual to vote after closure.
However, the court ruled that none of the alleged breaches materially affected the outcome of the election. Judge Selochan found that the Supervisor of Elections acted within legal authority when managing the voting process, and that there was insufficient evidence to prove that any irregularities altered the result.
The decision means there will be no by-election in The Bight, and Skippings will remain the duly elected Member of Parliament for the constituency.
Premier Charles Washington Misick, whose PNP won the overall election in a landslide, defended the decision to challenge the result.
“This is not just about winning a seat; it’s about ensuring that the voice of The Bight is truly heard,” he said in a statement prior to the ruling. He emphasized that the challenge was rooted in concerns over transparency and fairness.
Despite the ruling, the outcome remains a political flashpoint. “The Bight constituency deserves to have its voice heard and represented properly,” Misick had reiterated during his party’s victory rally, suggesting the PNP may continue advocating for electoral reform.
Skippings, represented by former parliamentarian and attorney Alvin Garland, has not yet issued a formal statement but is expected to continue serving under the PDM banner.
With the court’s decision now final, The Bight’s razor-thin election result stands—by a single vote.
