San Juan, Dec 20 Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced the holding of general elections on Jan. 18, urging his supporters to “guarantee his party’s success” in the elections to avoid a backlash in the to avoid development of the country.
The Caribbean country has been in campaign mode for months as snap elections were expected, though the appointment will eventually come just two months before the constitutional limit.
The ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labor Party (ABLP) won 15 of the 17 seats up for grabs in the 2018 election.
The main opposition parties United Progressive Party (UPP) and Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) won the other two seats.
“You can be sure that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in the UPP at the next general election,” Browne assured his supporters.
Browne explained that he had already asked the country’s governor, Rodney Williams, to dissolve parliament and call an election for January 18, 2023.
“We continue to count on you, the people of Antigua and Barbuda. We humbly ask for your continued support and not to allow a relapse,” the Prime Minister said.
In this regard, he explained that the islands’ development “requires continuity” and that if another party takes over government, it may “undo” the progress made.
During his speech, Browne described some of his government’s achievements, highlighting in particular the multi-million dollar spending to improve the country’s infrastructure and promising new projects in the new year.
He also emphasized that his administration was “one of the best networked in the entire Caribbean region” and that these good relations with other neighboring countries were for the benefit of the population. EFE
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