ST JOHN’S, Antigua (January 19, 2023)—The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) retained the government, claiming nine seats following the January 18, 2023 elections. This marked a majority that was decreased by five seats.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking from the ABLP’s headquarters on Nugent Avenue, addressed party faithful just past 3 am Thursday morning.
“We must give thanks no matter how small the blessings,” Browne said, which was acknowledgement that, up to that point, the ABLP had lost several seats. “This gives the government the chance to realign and create the space for new talent.”
New is relative, as Member of Parliament for St Philip North Sir Robin Yearwood, first elected to the Lower House in 1976, secured his eleventh consecutive election. Sir Molywn Joseph, MP for St. Mary’s North, who has contested every election since 1984, winning on his maiden outing, and losing only once, in the 2004 cycle was also victorious.
The ABLP casualties were Michael Browne (All Saints West); Dean Jonas (St. George) Samantha Marshall (St. Mary’s South); and Lennox Weston (St. Philip South). Asot Michael (St Peter) who won the seat on the ABLP ticket since 2004 and who fell completely out of favor with PM Browne and the ABLP, won his seat handsomely as an independent.
Also in the winners’ column for the ABLP were Melford Nicholas (St John’s City East); Maria Browne (St. John’s Rural East); EP Chet Greene (St. Paul); Daryll Matthew (St. John’s Rural South); and Charles “Max” Fernandez (St. John’s Rural North).
The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) increased its presence by five, taking six seats. Jamale Pringle (All Saints East and St. Luke) hitherto the only UPP Member of Parliament secured the repeat. Sherfield Bowen, a one-time ABLP parliamentarian, is back in the Lower House on the UPP benches, alongside newcomers Richard Lewis (St. John’s Rural West); Anthony Smith (All Saints West); Algernon Watts (St George) and Kelvin Simon (St. Mary’s South). Barbuda’s People Movement (BPM) candidate Trevor Walker was returned to Parliament.
Following a recount for the keenly contested St John’s City East seat, Lovell told state media the UPP fought a good campaign and offered congratulations to Browne and the ABLP.
PM Browne thanked his colleagues, assuring those who lost that they “would not be left out in the cold.”
He also had as near a mea culpa moment as he’s ever had publicly, saying, “I am not perfect; where I have to realign, I will realign.” Browne, however, maintained his usual self-confidence. “Gaston Browne is the best leader in this country,” he said, pointing to his feat of becoming the first prime minister to win three consecutive terms.
