Antigua: Prime Minister Browne 'Promising Landslide Victory' for Labour Party in Election

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne is promising a landslide victory, similar to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell's achievement in Grenada, in the country's upcoming general election on Mar. 21. "I am quite sure the results here in Antigua and Barbuda will be just as exciting, as we say 17 none,” Browne said as he extended “congratulations to my dear friend and brother.”

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He went on to note: “Prime Minister (Dr. Ralph) Gonsalves (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) said in a recent interview that myself and Keith Mitchell that we have worked very hard considering the circumstances that we inherited in our respective countries that we worked with aplomb… and clearly we have done well for the people.”

Browne made the comments amid accusations from Antigua and Barbuda's main opposition party, the United Progressive Party (UPP) of voters are being offered cash incentives to relinquish their voter identification card until after the Mar. 21, according to the Jamaica Observer.

The UPP released a public statement saying that the “illegal practice of paying electors to give up their voter identification card is intended to ensure that these persons would be unable to vote in the upcoming election.”

UPP legal advisor, Leon Chaku Symister, described the act as “blatant bribery” and that they are “least surprised” by such “a corrupt practice under our elections law.” He stressed that it's his party's “intention to take further steps to have law enforcement monitor these violators, with a view to bring them to justice,” according to Nation News.

Political analyst Arvel Grant foresees incumbent Prime Minister Browne and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party winning a “second term” in office. He noted, however, that the party was taking a risk standing by Ascot Michael, the Tourism and Investment Minister and member of parliament for the St. Peter constituency.

Residents of Barbuda, despite continuing recovery efforts after Category 5 Hurricane Irma, destroyed many building structures, will be able to vote from their local constituency.

Charlesworth Tabor, an attorney, said “There is nothing preventing” the people of Barbuda from voting on their island, according to the Antigua Observer. “It is not an electronic election where you need internet access and you need electricity. It is a manual exercise.”