Campaign Entanglement: Gaston Browne and Asot Michael sparred verbally while campaigning in Pares in the much-watched St Peter constituency Friday night
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (December 31, 2023)—Prime Minister and Political Leader of the incumbent Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Gaston Browne says his threat to punch Asot Michael came after the embattled incumbent Member of Parliament courted trouble while on the hustings in St Peter on Friday night.
In a widely circulated video, Michael is seen stepping onto a porch where Browne is standing in the doorway speaking to an occupant. Rawdon Turner, the ABLP candidate for the area, is standing next to Browne and tells Michael to have some respect.
Browne then tells Michael and members of his campaign team that they are encroaching on him. A door-mouth salvo ensues, with Browne insisting that Michael has no right to enter his personal space.
“If you come in my personal space it’s gonna be trouble. I will thump you in your face, okay!” Browne said.
On Saturday, posting on his Facebook page, Browne drilled down on his comments, saying he had “every right” to warn Michael.
“Proactive defense to avoid any escalation was necessary since he defied everyone, including law enforcement, to cease and desist with his bullying tactics. The threat of a thump got him to retreat, and we were able to continue our campaigning interrupted,” the statement published on Browne’s page read.
The ABLP leader alleges that matters came to a head after Michael and his campaign team trailed Turner and him as they engaged in door-to-door campaigning.
St Peter is one of the constituencies in keen focus for the January 18, 2023 polls. Michael, who won the seat four times on the ABLP ticket, has been forced to run as an independent after he was expelled from the ABLP and even as he pursues the matter in court.
In the constituency and in the wider public, facts are colliding. The seat is an ABLP stronghold and Michael, a popular benefactor to many, has more traction than any other independent candidate has had.
There are four candidates vying for the seat. In addition to Turner and Michael, Tevaughn Harriette (United Progressive Party) and Chaniel Imhoff (Democratic National Alliance) are also on the ballot.
