PM Browne wins again…just

Gaston Browne retained his job as prime minister of the idyllic tourism destination of Antigua in general elections held Wednesday, but his main rival and likely outgoing main opposition party leader failed to make it to parliament for the third straight elections.

Former Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs, Harold Lovell has called for a recount in the St. John’s east constituency after losing by a wafer thin six votes to incumbent representative and Minister of Information, Medford Nicholas. He is expected to quit as leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP). The UPP, formed back in 1992, had held power for two consecutive five-year terms lost to the still governing Antigua and Barbuda Labor Party (ABLP) in 2014.

In the 2018 contest, the UPP was soundly beaten, winning only a single seat. This time preliminary results show that it has picked up several new seats and could win another if the recount turns out in Lovell’s favor.

For the ALP, its parliamentary numbers will drop from 15 of the 17 seats to nine as the electorate has begun to show signs of political apathy with the ABLP. For flamboyant PM Browne, he is now the first local leader to win three straight general elections as he keeps his party in power for five more years. Browne was very thankful for the victory, saying it will give the party a chance to bring in new blood to re-energize it.

“You know I have always said to people, you must always give thanks, no matter how small the blessing and I see this decision as a blessing upon the people of Antigua and Barbuda. I want to thank you all very much. I say thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I feel humbled, again to be the first prime minister to get three consecutive terms and that is a significant amount of confidence and trust which I shall continue to honour,” he told jubilant supporters. He was scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday.

The UPP had lambasted Browne for a poor economic record and for running a country embroiled in corruption. They had made much of the controversial inauguration late last year of state-supported Antigua Airways which was billed as a necessary vehicle to link Africa and the Caribbean, eliminating the need to transit Europe or North America.

But it has failed to live up to expectations and questions have been swirling about the background of its mostly Nigerian investors and the disappearance on the island of most of the passengers brought to Antigua on recent flights.

PM Browne has defended the airline, saying that such a service is necessary.

Browne, 55, has also declared a national holiday in the twin island federation on Thursday, saying “truth be told, whenever you try to remove incumbents it is very difficult. So when you remove incumbents then it creates the space you could bring in new talent to the organisation, to the government.”

He also called on candidates to accept the results and suggested that losing candidates would have another shot in five years. Just over 60,000 locals voted in the elections.

As a sign that the political clock is ticking for the ABLP, several UPP first time candidates wrested power from the party with voters contending that it was time for a change, the Observer newspaper reported.