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Antigua & Barbuda: Elections underway – results expected later on today
Incumbent Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda Baldwin Spencer (l) and Opposition leader Gaston Browne (r). PHOTO/File
Antiguans & Barbudans are voting today to elect a new government.
The 164 polling stations opened at 6:00 am EDT and will close at 6:00 pm EDT later.
Electoral officials said that 47, 721 people are eligible to cast ballots for candidates representing 6 political parties although the race is seen as a straight fight between incumbent Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer’s ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) and the main opposition Antigua & Barbuda Labor Party (ALP) of Gaston Browne.
Spencer is seeking a third consecutive term in office, but the ALP under the new leadership of businessman Gaston Browne is seeking to reverse its fortunes after having been swept out of power in 2004.
In the 2009 general election, the UPP won nine seats, while the ALP won seven.
The elections are being monitored by several regional and international observer groups, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth.
The Antigua & Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) said it is “fully prepared” for the polls in which the parties are vying for control of the 17-seat parliament. ABEC public relations officer, Anne Harewood-George said that a new feature of the election is the establishment of information centers.
“We have 54 information centers and these are located at the various polling districts. They are being be manned by the staff of the electoral commission and these individuals are easily identifiable because they are wearing badges,” she said. -(CMC)