Landslide victory for PM Gaston E. Browne’s ABLP in March 21, 2018 elections
There were 17 elected seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives voted on in single-member constituencies.
Background
On February 24, 2018, Prime Minister Gaston E. Browne of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) announced that Antigua and Barbuda would be going to the polls on March 21, 2018, to elect a new government. The snap election took place 15 months before it was constitutionally due in June 2019.
According to Browne, the polls were called early to protect the many plans his ABLP has programmed for this year and the next. “We have an opportunity at this point to consolidate the leadership of this country, to provide investors with predictability, to prove stability, to provide continuity, and that's the main reason why we're going to the polls early,” he said to the local media in Antigua and Barbuda.
Prime Minister Browne advised the Governor-General to dissolve parliament on Monday, February 26, 2018, and Nomination Day was set for Monday, March 5, 2018.
A total of 51, 258 Antiguans and Barbudans were eligible to vote in the 2018 general election.
Political Parties & Candidates
As in previous elections, the main political parties contesting the election were the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) and the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP).
A total of 53 candidates contested the March 21, 2018, general election in Antigua and Barbuda. The ruling ABLP, led by Prime Minister Browne is the only party that presented a full slate of 17 candidates. The main opposition, Harold E. E. Lovell-led United Progressive Party (UPP) had 16 candidates, while its affiliate the Barbuda Peoples Movement (BPM) contested one seat, Barbuda.
The new Joanne M. Massiah-led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) registered 13 candidates, Go Green for Life (GGL) two, and Missing Link VOP (MLVOP), one. The Antigua Barbuda True Labour Party (ABTLP) led by Vere C. Bird III had two candidates. Attorney-at-law Ralph Francis was the only independent candidate.
Results
The ABLP led by Prime Minister Browne won the 2018 general elections, gaining one more seat in the parliament and will retain the government in Antigua and Barbuda. Results indicate that the ABLP has won 15 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives. The opposition UPP, led by former Finance Minister Lovell, has won 1 seat. Mr Lovell, the leader of his party, failed to secure a seat.
The Ms Massiah led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) failed to win any seats in the 2018 election. Voter turnout was 76.3 percent, according to election officials.
Julian Willock’s take
In an invited comment, Mr Julian Willock of the Virgin Islands (VI) consulting firm, Advance Marketing and Professional Services, said “Mr Browne enjoyed unprecedented economic growth, and even though the sister island of Barbuda was totally destroyed by Hurricane Irma last year, the main island of Antigua suffered minimal damages and was able to get back on its feet in short order.”
Mr Willock said the Browne Administration did not face much corruption scandals and when there were issues he addressed them and had the leadership ability to ask Ministers to resign.
In addition, Mr Willock who himself will be a candidate in the VI upcoming general elections said, “Antigua is a Labour Party country and most of the developments of the country were done under the ‘Birds’ and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.”
The former Permanent Secretary and Businessman, Mr Willock, declined to comment on the VI’s political climate.
.jpg)
Follow Us On
15 Responses to “Landslide victory for PM Gaston E. Browne’s ABLP in March 21, 2018 elections”
so true as only here Dr Smith does not have the balls to fire anyone so sad