Prime Minister Gaston Browne has formally initiated the process for national elections in Antigua and Barbuda, confirming he has advised Governor General Sir Rodney Williams to dissolve Parliament ahead of polls scheduled for next month. The announcement came during a parliamentary session where Browne detailed his constitutional approach to the dissolution process.
Citing Section 60, Subsection 1 of the Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981, which grants the Governor General authority to prorogue or dissolve Parliament upon the Prime Minister’s recommendation, Browne outlined his careful timing considerations. He revealed that while the government could have proceeded with immediate dissolution that would have set elections for April 17th, he opted for a more measured approach to avoid placing the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) at a significant disadvantage.
‘As a Christian man, I believe in mercy,’ Browne stated, explaining his decision to allow additional preparation time for the opposition. ‘I’ve been advised to give them a few more days to allow them to get their house in order, because clearly, even though they are making articulations to the extent that they are ready, they still do not have a full slate as yet.’
The government has scheduled Parliament’s dissolution for Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, with the formal election writ potentially issued the same day. Browne indicated that the Cabinet will determine the exact timing during their meeting next week, noting that if the writ is issued on April 21st, elections would follow 21 days later, including holidays and Sundays, placing the vote around April 22nd.
Browne emphasized that the opposition would not receive more than an additional week for preparation, hoping they would ‘utilize Holy Week to bring their party together, to get some love in their hearts, and to get in a state of readiness.’ The process follows the Representation of the People Act 2001 as amended by Statutory Instrument Number 6 of 2010, with subsequent correspondence to the Governor General specifying nomination dates and the final election timetable.
The upcoming elections follow the January 2023 general election where Browne’s Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) secured nine seats against the UPP and an independent candidate, with the recent by-election victory of ABLP’s Randy Baltimore strengthening the ruling party’s position.