Antigua & Barbuda to Hold Snap Election Within 90 Days

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that Antigua & Barbuda will hold a general election within the next 90 days, calling on supporters of the ruling Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to begin mobilizing.

Speaking on his weekly radio program, Browne urged candidates to intensify door-to-door outreach and ensure voters complete the re-registration process. “General elections are coming,” he said, adding that the vote could come sooner than later.

The announcement follows a decisive ABLP victory in a recent by-election for the St. Philip North seat, where the party secured nearly 70 percent of the vote on a 70 percent turnout. Political analysts say the result strengthens the ABLP’s position.

Barbados-based pollster Peter Wickham has suggested the prime minister call a snap election to capitalize on the party’s momentum.

Wickham also questioned the leadership of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), citing a series of electoral losses and internal discord.

In the last general election, held in January 2023, the ABLP won nine of 17 seats. Subsequent by-elections and a party defection have since shifted the balance of power.

Browne, who became the country’s first prime minister to win three consecutive terms, said the election will take place within 90 days. “The earlier you go to get your card, the better,” he told voters.