With general elections on the horizon in Antigua and Barbuda, a leading social science scholar from The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus is pushing for a more informed, participatory democratic process by calling for organized candidates’ debates in every electoral constituency. Dr. Kwasi K. Tonge, who makes his home in the St. Mary’s North constituency, has thrown particular support behind a planned head-to-head forum between the two major parties’ contenders for that seat: Jonathan Joseph of the United Progressive Party and Dr. Philmore Benjamin of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.
In public remarks shared ahead of the vote, Dr. Tonge emphasized that structured, on-the-record debates offer voters an unmatched opportunity to directly evaluate each candidate’s policy priorities, leadership style, and long-term development vision for their local constituency. Unlike scattered campaign events or targeted social media messaging, he argued, these open forums create a level playing field that lets constituents connect directly with the people asking for their support.
“Public debates are a non-negotiable pillar of a healthy, functioning democracy,” Dr. Tonge explained. “They give constituents space to engage in substantive dialogue, put pressing questions to candidates, and gauge firsthand the competence, personal character, and readiness of anyone seeking public office.”
The researcher acknowledged that informal political back-and-forth and casual partisan banter are a natural, widespread part of every election cycle, but stressed that voters must move beyond surface-level rhetoric to cast ballots that align with their own values and community needs. “This is a make-or-break moment for our constituency and our nation,” he noted. “Voters deserve access to all the information they need to make thoughtful, responsible choices that shape their future and the future of the communities we call home.”
Drawing on global democratic benchmarks, Dr. Tonge pointed to long-established debate traditions in established democracies such as the United Kingdom, where structured candidate forums are a standard, widely expected element of every electoral cycle. In these systems, he explained, debates create a transparent, accountable space where voters can hear unfiltered positions directly from candidates, rather than relying on second-hand messaging from party campaigns.
As a native Antiguan and Barbudan with deep roots in the country, Dr. Tonge extended his well wishes to all candidates and both major political parties, sharing a core hope that the entire electoral process will center and reflect the explicit will of the Antiguan and Barbudan public. Closing his remarks, he reaffirmed his commitment to open democracy, saying “Ultimately, let democracy prevail.”