Politics
Antigua & Barbuda: Spencer Administration requests for CARICOM observers in preparation for general election
Antigua & Barbuda has asked the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to send a mission to observe the general election likely to be held next month.
The Baldwin Spencer administration, which is seeking a third consecutive term in office, has requested that the regional grouping mount a CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission (CEOM) “when the date is announced and which is at least 21 days before the actual day of polls”.
Prime Minister Spencer has not yet named the date for the poll, but earlier this month told supporters of the United Progressive Party (UPP) to keep March 15 as an important date, hinting that the polls could come around that time.
He later told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) the reference to March 15 was intended to get people sensitized to the fact that an election was imminent “and in the planning process I just wanted to set the stage for the people of Antigua & Barbuda to place certain dates in mind.
“The 15th of March is the date something will certainly happen in Antigua & Barbuda,” he said, adding that the announcement with respect to the actual election day “is still in my back pocket”.
Spencer said he was confident that the electorate would return his United Progressive Party (UPP) back into office, saying “we believe we have kept faith with the people of Antigua & Barbuda and we have done the greatest good for the greatest number since we took office in 2004”.
However, Gaston Browne, who is leading the main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) into the general election, told reporters that the Spencer administration had over the past few years “actually dismantled the economy” and that the twin island-nation had lost approximately 25 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
“Today you have unemployment in excess of 25 percent and the poverty level in excess of 35 percent. So in essence they have destroyed the country and I think Antiguans & Barbudans are desirous of change and I believe they have every confidence that the Antigua & Barbuda Labor Party will make a difference in their lives”.
Browne said voters could look forward to a transformation of leadership as the new government seeks to revive an ailing economy. -(CMC)