Leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne addresses the crowd at the launch of the ABLP candidates
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (December 19, 2022)—January 18, 2023. That’s the date Antiguans and Barbudans go to the polls to elect a new government.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Political Leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Gaston Browne made the announcement at the official launch of the ABLP candidates and what was essentially the kickoff of the campaign season. He was speaking at the party’s headquarters at Nugent Avenue.
“I believe that we can achieve all 17 (seats),” Browne told Dadli Media Pop Up (DM) moments after the announcement. While he expressed some concerns about the All Saints East & St Luke and Barbuda constituencies, which are currently held by the United Progressive Party (UPP) and Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) respectively, he said they are “up for grabs.”
Browne, the incumbent in the St. John’s City West constituency, said following his instructions to Governor General Sir Rodney Williams to dissolve parliament last Friday, Sir Rodney “stands ready to issue the writ of elections tomorrow (Tuesday).”
“Nomination Day will follow on December 28, 2022. (Election) day will be on January 18, 2023,” Browne said.
Before announcing the date, Browne presented the ABLP’s scorecard, giving top marks to his administration. He singled out several of his ministers, calling them the best in the country’s history. The list included Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph (St. Mary’s North); Minister of Lands and Housing Maria Browne (St John’s Rural East); Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez (St John’s Rural North); and Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin (St John’s City South).
From economics to education, tourism to security, infrastructure to telecommunications, the redevelopment of the port and every aspect in between, Browne gave his administration an A+.
The lone exception was the water problem that continues to plague the country. “Even where progress may be relatively slow, as in the case of the water situation, you must remain hopeful and confident at the same time that the Labour Party will resolve the issue,” Browne said.
“I know that it is not fully resolved and I continue to ask for your patience,” Browne said, of the water woes—expected to be a major issue for the electorate. He reported that his administration has spent $130 million, and, in a few months, will solve the problem “once and for all.”
Promising full employment by 2023, expansion of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus–on the back of a $260 million loan from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–a cargo port and new airport for Barbuda, Browne asked his supporters for continued support and avoidance of complacency.
Before Browne’s speech, the emcee Jessie Fire introduced the other candidates. Notably absent was St Peter MP Asot Michael, who was rendered unfit to run by the party’s suitability committee earlier this year. Newcomer Rawdon Turner replaced him. The popular MP has since started his own campaign in the constituency as an independent candidate.
The launch event featured performances from, amongst others, Burning Flames, Claudette Peters, Tian Winter, Lyrics Man, Gee Bee, Skinny Fabulous, and Jamaican reggae/dancehall star Christopher Martin.
A win for the Gaston Browne-led ABLP would give him a third term as Prime Minister of the twin island state, but victory for the governing party is not a fait accompli, as the elections are being called amidst challenging times for the country. Shortages of propane and petrol just days before Christmas remain foremost in the minds of anxious locals who are fearful supplies would not be replenished in time. Browne pushed back against those concerns.
Monday’s announcement did not surprise the leader of the main opposition party.
“We’re ready.” UPP Political Leader Harold Lovell told DM. “As far as the work is concerned, we’ve put in the work. We launched our candidates in September of 2020.
“It’s not as though we haven’t been doing the work, we’ve been doing the work in anticipation of a general election,” Lovell said.
