Antigua and Barbuda is set to inaugurate Prime Minister Gaston Browne for an unprecedented fourth consecutive term on Friday morning, following a landslide general election victory that has cemented the long-running dominance of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) over national governance.
Fresh off a commanding performance in Thursday’s poll, the ABLP captured 15 of the 17 total seats in the country’s national parliament — a resounding outcome that leaves the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) with only a single legislative seat. The Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) retained the one seat representing the island of Barbuda, holding its ground as the only other opposition voice in the new legislature.
The official swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. local time on May 1, 2026, at Government House in the capital city of St. John’s. Alongside Browne, senior party figure Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin will also take the oath of office, set to assume dual roles as Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Public Safety and Labour. Browne will simultaneously be sworn in to head multiple key portfolios, including finance, corporate governance, and public-private partnerships.
This historic win extends the ABLP’s hold on national power to more than a decade, marking a landmark milestone in Antigua and Barbuda’s modern political history — no other prime minister has secured four consecutive terms in office since the country entered its current political era. With the inauguration complete, all focus will immediately shift to the formation of Browne’s new cabinet, with additional ministerial appointments expected to be announced in the days ahead as the incoming administration prepares to begin its new mandate.