The political atmosphere in St. Philip’s North has reached a fever pitch as the March 16 by-election approaches, with the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) and the United Progressive Party (UPP) engaging in increasingly hostile exchanges. Both parties and their candidates have escalated their rhetoric during the critical final phase of campaigning.
The ABLP recently circulated images of a derelict building, attempting to associate UPP candidate Alex Browne with the neglected structure. Browne’s campaign team vehemently denied these allegations, clarifying that the property in question is privately owned and located in Seatons. They revealed the building was utilized over twenty years ago by former UPP candidate Francis ‘Frankie’ Nunes Jr., who has since passed away. Browne’s representatives emphasized that their candidate has no connections to the property and that their campaign headquarters is officially established in Willikies.
George Wehner, a prominent Browne supporter, publicly accused the ABLP of engaging in voter deception tactics. He asserted that the ruling party was deliberately attempting to mislead constituents by creating false associations between Browne and abandoned properties, expressing confidence that voters would not be swayed by such tactics.
Meanwhile, Browne’s campaign has redirected focus toward their central message of constituency transformation. During a recent rally in Willikies, a keynote speaker declared, ‘The time for change is now,’ while explicitly urging supporters to ‘vote Alex Browne.’ The event concluded with enthusiastic chants of ‘Alex is next’ as attendees committed to ‘reject Baltimore’ – a reference to ABLP candidate Sherfield Bowen.
The digital campaign landscape reflects the partisan divide, with ABLP supporters utilizing hashtags such as #VoteBaltimore and #SafeAndSecure, while UPP advocates have mobilized around #VoteAlexBrowne and #PeopleFirst. With polling day rapidly approaching, both political organizations appear to be refining their offensive strategies as this tightly contested election enters its decisive stage.