Fresh off his re-election to Antigua and Barbuda’s newly convened Parliament, a decades-long veteran of national politics has sent subtle shockwaves through the legislative chamber with unexpected hints that his time in office is drawing to a close. Trevor Walker, the long-serving Member of Parliament for Barbuda, shared the cryptic revelation during his first remarks after being sworn in to his latest term on Tuesday.
Reflecting on a political career that has spanned more than 20 years, one of the nation’s longest-tenured elected officials opened with gratitude to the constituents who have repeatedly entrusted him with office. In a reflection on his unique electoral trajectory, Walker noted that his support has only grown with each election cycle, bucking the common trend of incumbents seeing their margins shrink over time. “My political career seems to be different from most persons,” he told the assembled House. “The longer I go, the more votes I get. And the larger my margin seems to be.”
It was after this reflection that Walker dropped the comment that immediately drew attention from his fellow parliamentarians. Speaking to Speaker Osbert Frederick, he stated plainly: “I can say here, Mr. Speaker, that my time in this honorable house, Mr. Speaker, is coming to an end. And I’ll just leave it at that.”
Walker chose not to elaborate on the announcement, offering no timeline for his departure or details about what he plans to do after leaving office. Despite the confirmation that his legislative career is approaching its end, the MP made clear that he remains fully committed to serving the people of Barbuda through the entirety of this new term. In a formal pledge to his constituents, he said he would serve “with more vigor and with more determination” than in any previous term.
Beyond the retirement announcement, Walker used his swearing-in remarks to congratulate Frederick on his return to the Speaker’s chair, and to acknowledge the landslide victory of the governing Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party in the April 30 general election. He also reaffirmed his core policy priorities, which center on advocating for Barbuda’s interests, particularly the long-running contentious issue of land ownership on the island.
Walker stressed that he is open to collaborative work with the national administration, but drew a firm line on protecting local control of Barbuda’s land. “We have no problem cooperating with the Prime Minister,” he said. “But I must say on the record that we prefer not to be interfered with either. Leave us with our land. That is our land. It’s ours.”
Walker’s comments on Tuesday confirm what political observers have begun to speculate in recent months: after 20-plus years representing his island in Parliament, the veteran lawmaker is planning to step away from elective office before the next election cycle. While no official departure date has been set, the public comment marks the first time Walker has openly acknowledged that his legislative career is nearing its conclusion.