By: Staff Writer
January 20, 2023
Prime Minister Gaston Browne led his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to a close victory in Wednesday’s general election, winning nine of the 17 seats for a third consecutive term in office, according to the preliminary results released here early Thursday morning.
The ALBP lost ground from the 2018 general election where the party won 15 of the 17 seats, losing seven seats in Wednesday’s, 2023 election.
According to the figures shared by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), PM Browne won the election after bagging 1,295 votes making him prime minister for a third consecutive time. His opponent from the United Progressive Party (UPP) – T Allister Lincoln Thomas, won 621 seats.
Mr Browne, in his victory speech, said that: “notwithstanding all of the challenges that we’re faced with Antigua and Barbuda has a very bright future ahead.” Building on the work of his previous two administrations he further added: “we have built out the socio economic infrastructure of this country, which means that we are now poised to take this country to the next level of progress and prosperity.”
The Browne administration also just recently signed a $216m loan agreement to expand the University of the West Indies “Five Islands” campus in Antigua.
He also said: “This year thousands of jobs will be generated in the private sector. We have as an example, housing-that is rebuilding- that will create 800 new jobs. You also have Sandals that is expanding, and an additional 300 jobs, your PLH (Peace, Love and Happiness) that will also generate a few hundred jobs, and many other private sector investments.”
Acknowledging the closer than anticipated win against the UPP, where they lost seven seats from their 2018 near clean sweep, Mr Browne brushed this off as fatigue from former parliamentarians who didn’t have the energy for the political fight any longer and became “lethargic.” He added: “But in any case, it will be an example for you leadership to ensure that no matter, we’ve given two terms, and you’re going for a third term, you have to put in the same energy as in your first serve.”
Mr Browne ultimately called for unity after the election and asked that the Opposition UPP and the Antiguan people in general to “accept” the results so the country could move forward together.