Four in a row for ABLP

By Latrishka Thomas

The hands of Antiguan politics have not moved in almost 12 years as the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has won its fourth consecutive term in office, claiming 15 of 17 seats in the general elections.

If it feels like déjà vu, it is because in 2018 the party defeated the United Progressive Party (UPP) by that very same margin. And much like then, Jamale Pringle is left “single” — the only member of the party he leads to have retained his seat — as the ABLP swept to an overwhelming majority.

Election Day got off to a sluggish start, and in most constituencies, it stayed that way, with low voter turnout appearing to plague the polls from morning through to the close of voting.

But “slow and steady wins the race”.

The ABLP crept steadily upward to ultimately claiming an overwhelming majority by night’s end. “You have spoken. You have spoken clearly,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne told supporters at the ABLP’s headquarters. “You have entrusted me once again with the honour of serving as your Prime Minister,” — words he delivered from a prepared speech, as though he knew he would win.

Counting began in Barbuda shortly after 6:30 p.m., with St Phillip North following at around 7 p.m. However, the first seat to be officially declared was that of Browne, who retained St John’s City West — a constituency he has held since 1999 — securing his seventh consecutive term representing that seat. Browne took it with 1,444 votes to challenger Alister Thomas’ 392.

From there, the results rolled in across the island.

In St John’s City East, Melford Nicholas defeated Pearl Quinn-Williams 863 to 467. Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, a veteran of the ABLP who has represented St John’s City South since 1994, held his seat 887 to 350 over Adrian Williams.

In St John’s Rural West, Michael Joseph won 1,573 to Richard Lewis’ 1,170, with independent candidate Nigel Bascus receiving four votes. Daryll Matthew took St John’s Rural South 1,457 to 945 over Emanuel Peters, while Maria Browne claimed St John’s Rural East convincingly, 2,127 to Ashworth Azille’s 994.

Charles Fernandez, a fixture in the House since 2009, held St John’s Rural North 1,642 to Malaka Parker’s 1,055.

In St Mary’s North, Philmore Benjamin defeated Jonathan Joseph 1,741 to 1,266. St Mary’s South was among the tighter contests of the night, with Dwayne George edging out Kelvin Simon 1,002 to 912 — a margin of 90 votes.

The lone UPP bright spot came in All Saints East and St Luke, where Pringle held off ABLP’s Lamin Newton 1,239 to 1,403 — retaining the seat by 164 votes.

In All Saints West, Anthony Smith Jr defeated former UPP leader Harold Lovell 1,844 to 1,478. Michael Freeland won St George 2,250 to Kelton Dalso’s 1,368, with independent Gail Pero receiving 45 votes. Rawdon Turner claimed St Peter by a wide margin, 2,044 to George Wehner’s 791. In St Phillip North, Randy Baltimore won convincingly 1,061 to Alex Browne’s 335.

One of the most closely watched results of the night came from St Phillip South, where first-time candidate Kiz Nathaniel-Johnson narrowly defeated Sherfield Bowen 493 to 444 — a margin of just 49 votes. In St Paul, Chet Greene took the seat 1,110 to Franz deFreitas’ 652, with independent Alan Weston receiving 49 votes.

The only seat to fall outside the ABLP’s grasp — besides Pringle’s — was Barbuda, where Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) defeated ABLP’s Kendra Beazer 616 to 391. It was a result that also mirrored 2018, when the BPM also held that seat.

A visibly deflated Pringle addressed supporters after the results became clear, vowing the UPP was not finished. “Whether I win by one vote or I win by ten votes, you are the winner. There is no second place in politics. You either win or lose,” he said.

“The fact is, we maintain the seat, and we will continue to maintain All Saints East and St Luke in the column of the United Progressive Party.”

He added: “I did it once, and I’ll do it again. Just as we did in 2018, we’ll still be standing. You can’t get enough of the United Progressive Party.”

In his victory address, Browne spoke of personal attacks he endured during the campaign, claiming his detractors had used “every device, every platform, every opportunity to cast doubts, to spread falsehoods, and to smear my name — even when the courts have found no basis for their claims.”

He thanked the people for seeing through the noise, and pledged that infrastructure investment would reach every community regardless of political affiliation. “We’ll not be spiteful. We’ll continue to build out the road and water infrastructure throughout the country,” he said, before closing with a scriptural reference: “To whom much is given, much is required. I accept the responsibility with humility to serve again as your Prime Minister.”

Browne is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister this morning at 10 a.m., and will be resuming his role as Finance Minister. Sir Steadroy Benjamin will simultaneously be sworn in as Attorney General and Minister of Public Safety and Labour — the same portfolios both men held in the outgoing administration.