Antigua PM warns supporters against complacency ahead of election

Prime Minister Gaston Browne is warning supporters of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) against complacency as the country prepares for a general election expected as early as next month.

Although no official election date has been announced, Browne revealed that he has already written to Sir Rodney Williams advising him to dissolve Parliament, paving the way for the polls.

Speaking on his weekly radio programme, Browne cautioned party supporters against assuming victory, even as he pointed to favourable opinion polls.

“I want to make a point to some of our supporters. Yes, we have caught the UPP, let’s say divided and unprepared. It’s never good for a political party to be caught unprepared, much less divided.

“So there are two things going for us there. But at the same time, we ought not take them for granted. And the risk that we run is our comrades taking the position that we already won and there’s no need for them to get the (voter identification) card validated or to vote,” Browne said.

Meanwhile, one political party, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), has already announced that it will not contest the upcoming elections.

“Following a meeting of the Management Committee of the Democratic National Alliance…it was unanimously decided that the party will not participate in the snap general elections advised by the Prime Minister, which are expected to be called within 90 days,” the party said in a statement.

The DNA, founded on April 18, 2017 and led by former legislator Joanne Massiah, thanked supporters, members and well-wishers for their support over the years.

In the last general election held on January 18, 2023, the ABLP won nine of the 17 seats, with the remaining seats going to the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) and one independent candidate.

Browne said supporters must ensure they are properly registered and prepared to vote, recalling that some party supporters failed to participate in the last election because they believed victory was assured.

“I think they felt that we had it in the bag. So I’m saying that to say that it is not won until it is won and that our people must be vigilant. They must be prepared,” he said.

Browne also cited new polling data showing the ABLP holding a significant lead over the opposition UPP.

According to the Prime Minister, the poll places the ABLP at 49 per cent support compared to 26 per cent for the UPP. He also claimed that his personal approval rating stands at 59 per cent, while Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle recorded 15 per cent.

“These polls demonstrate that they do not see Pringle as leadership material,” Browne said, adding that voters prefer “safe and secure hands” to manage the country amid global uncertainty.

He said there has been a 22-point swing away from the UPP, noting that the ABLP increased by 13 percentage points while the opposition declined by nine points.

Browne added that polling conducted by regional pollsters Peter Wickham of Barbados and Don Anderson of Jamaica produced similar findings, suggesting consistency across surveys.

The UPP has not publicly responded to Browne’s claims.