The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) has issued a firm public rebuke of its former chair Bruce Goodwin, demanding he immediately withdraw a series of incendiary unproven claims that the commission has compromised its institutional independence and cast doubt over the legitimacy of the 2026 April 30 general election. Goodwin made the allegations during a recent appearance on *Eye on the Issues*, a local current affairs program hosted by Louisa Tully, prompting the unusually strongly worded official statement released by ABEC on Tuesday.
In the statement, ABEC categorically rejected every claim Goodwin put forward, describing his comments as false, reckless, malicious, and completely unsupported by any credible evidence. The commission emphasized that all of its internal policies, operational frameworks, and procedural rules remain fully compliant with national law, and that it has operated with unwavering transparency and institutional independence since its establishment. ABEC flatly denied widespread claims in Goodwin’s remarks that the body has been “captured by the State,” controlled by partisan political interests, or maintains inappropriate improper ties to any government apparatus, calling any assertion to the contrary a scandalous and deeply irresponsible distortion of fact.
ABEC expressed particular disappointment that these damaging allegations came from a former leader of the organization, noting that Goodwin should be uniquely aware of the critical constitutional role the commission’s independence plays in upholding Antigua and Barbuda’s democratic system. The body warned that unsubstantiated public misinformation of this kind does lasting damage to public trust in core democratic institutions, framing Goodwin’s comments as not just an attack on individual commissioners and staff, but on the integrity of the entire electoral process itself.
The commission also came out in full defense of all its personnel, including the Supervisor of Elections, appointed commissioners, administrative staff, and election scrutineers, affirming that every team member has consistently carried out their statutory duties with professionalism, integrity, and relentless commitment to fair process. ABEC further clarified that any individual holding credible evidence of actual electoral misconduct should submit that evidence to the appropriate statutory authorities through established channels, rather than airing unproven accusations in public to sow public distrust.
“The dissemination of serious accusations in the public domain, without proof and in a manner calculated to inflame suspicion and disrepute, is a reckless abuse of public commentary and an affront to responsible democratic engagement,” the commission’s statement read.
ABEC also highlighted the long-standing practice of inviting local, regional, and international independent observer groups to monitor all stages of its electoral processes, noting that the full transparency of the commission’s operations would be clearly evident to any independent monitoring mission. The body closed by urging the general public to disregard Goodwin’s unsubstantiated claims, and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to upholding impartiality, full compliance with the law, and radical transparency in all aspects of electoral administration moving forward. It also warned that it is fully prepared to pursue all available legal avenues to defend its reputation, institutional independence, and the integrity of the national electoral process.