ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (January 23, 2023) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne has flatly rejected suggestions that the recently concluded elections were a referendum on his personality and leadership style. The Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Political Leader has long been seen as a controversial figure, given his forthright and unapologetic leadership style.
“If it was a referendum on my performance, we would have won all the seats,” Browne told Dadli Media Pop Up. “I know there are times when they hold on to trivialities about style but, you know, I’ve been polling extensively for a couple of decades and that is not something that features.”
Browne conceded that his party suffered at the hands of a dissatisfied electorate that was angered by different “bread and butter issues” including the ongoing water supply problem, the high cost of fuel and food as well as residual effects from the covid-19 pandemic.
Browne also set aside suggestions that there may be moves from within his party to remove him as leader, paving the way for someone else to take over as prime minister. He dismissed the suggestion as part of an opposition strategy to undermine confidence in his leadership.
“I can tell you that the party is solidly united. Yes, we had a little issue with Asot Michael, but outside of that we are solidly united,” Browne said. “I don’t feel threatened and if, per chance, there was any group that would try that and I have to go back to the polls with a new team then I’ll do so. So that is not a solution to those who are seeking power at all costs,” Browne said.
“There’re now eight new (cabinet) members and I can say yes, I enjoy the full support of the eight members and anyone who would say otherwise is obviously trying to create mischief,” Browne said.
When pressed on the issue ABLP Chairman Chet Greene refused to be drawn into any discussion on Browne’s leadership.
“I will not, here in public, pronounce on the prime minister and I will not join in one in suggesting that the elections are a referendum on the prime minister. I will not do that,” Greene said.
“The prime minister, as my political leader (and) I as the chairman of the party, we will have a sit down as we’ve always done. We will ventilate and we’ll exchange views and ideas because clearly the party too has to look at how we restructure, reform and rebrand, not rebrand in a negative way… how we project to the public the party’s mission.”
Meanwhile, Browne has promised to maintain his style of leadership into his unprecedented third term.
“A third term Gaston Browne (is) practically the same in all aspects of my service,” Browne said.
Wednesday’s elections saw six ABLP casualties and a huge blow for gender equity as only one of the 11 women seeking office was elected. Having been re-elected in St John’s Rural East, Maria Browne returns to parliament as the lone female legislator. She is now a major player in the Gaston Browne cabinet with the addition of Works to her ministerial portfolio.
The new, smaller cabinet of eight members was confirmed on Friday – all of whom served in the last administration and now have greater responsibilities.
Before the election, a more confident Browne promised a strong ABLP victory with even a possible clean sweep, but following the results there was a change of tone.
“I am humbled,” he said. He added it is his intent to fight unrelentingly for people’s empowerment.
As far as Greene was concerned, the election exposed areas of weakness.
“We had gaps,” Greene said. “As a party we had gaps, as a government we had challenges. And so what we saw coming out was a response and reaction to those gaps.”
These gaps, he said, were largely responsible for the party’s performance. He also attributed some of the shortfall to some of the candidates who did not do what they should have done.
