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Following an unsuccessful bid in Antigua and Barbuda’s recent general election, former candidate Lamin Newton has publicly extended his heartfelt appreciation to every individual who stood behind his campaign. In an official statement released after the final results were confirmed, Newton emphasized that he remains deeply grateful to the 1,239 voters who placed their confidence in his platform and vision, even when the final outcome did not swing in his favor. Newton went on to acknowledge the unwavering support, constant encouragement, and genuine belief that constituents of the All Saints East and St Luke (ASESL) constituency extended to him throughout the entirety of the election cycle, noting that this backing holds a value that goes far beyond what any written or spoken statement could capture. Contrary to assumptions that an election defeat would mark the end of his engagement with the constituency, Newton made clear his firm intention to continue his public work and maintain his longstanding commitment to serving the ASESL community. In a defiant yet reassuring note to his supporters, he stressed: “This is not the end.” He added that his close, collaborative connection with the people he hoped to represent will remain unbroken, and that he will continue to advocate for their needs long after the election results have been finalized. Newton’s defeat comes as part of a broader province-wide general election that has reshaped the national political landscape of Antigua and Barbuda. Multiple competitive, closely contested races across the country drew significant public attention, with outcomes that are expected to shift legislative dynamics and policy priorities for the incoming government.

Fresh off his decisive win in the race for St Mary’s South’s elected representative seat, Dwayne George has publicly extended gratitude to every constituent who cast a ballot in his favor. In his first official remarks following the formal confirmation of the election results, George framed his victory not as a final political milestone, but as a mandate earned through years of grassroots effort, shared community faith, and the hard-won trust of local residents.

George made clear that the election night outcome only marks the opening of a new chapter in his work with the people he will now represent. “This is only the beginning. Now the real work starts,” he emphasized in his concise post-election statement, underscoring that the most critical efforts to serve the constituency lie ahead.

Central to his initial pledges is a promise of close, ongoing collaboration with local residents. George stressed that his tenure will be rooted in two core principles: unwavering, accessible representation for all community members, and consistent, tangible progress on the top issues that impact daily life in St Mary’s South. “Working with you, for you,” he added, summarizing his approach to public service in the role.

With his victory now formalized, George has locked in his position as the constituency’s new official representative. All eyes now turn to the incoming representative, as local stakeholders and ordinary residents await the rollout of his policy priorities and detailed action plans to address St Mary’s South’s most pressing needs.

In a historic outcome that has reshaped Antigua and Barbuda’s political landscape, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has claimed an unprecedented fourth straight term in office, following a landslide general election victory that handed his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) an overwhelming parliamentary majority. The final results from Thursday’s vote saw the ABLP capture 15 of the 17 available legislative seats, a margin of victory widely described as one of the most decisive in the nation’s modern political history. The win cements Browne’s status as the longest-serving modern head of government in Antigua and Barbuda. Speaking to jubilant supporters hours after the results were confirmed, Browne opened his remarks by extending gratitude to voters across the country, framing the landslide outcome as a deliberate rejection of what he called widespread slander and misinformation leveled against his administration during the heated campaign period. “You rejected the slander… you rejected the misinformation,” Browne told the gathered crowd, emphasizing that the election results represent both a political mandate and a moral endorsement of his leadership’s track record. He went on to commit to a new term centered on disciplined, accountable governance, making a public promise to honor the faith voters placed in his administration. “There will be no abuse of the trust that you have reposed in us,” Browne stated, adding that his government would have zero tolerance for any action that betrays public confidence moving forward. The Prime Minister struck a unifying tone to cap his remarks, pushing back against narratives that the lopsided result would deepen national political divides. He urged ABLP supporters to avoid gloating over the victory, and instead redirect their energy toward collective national progress. “This victory is not about division… it is about building Antigua and Barbuda for all,” he said. Browne also reaffirmed that his administration’s development agenda would extend to every community across the dual-island nation, regardless of which party local voters supported in the election, pledging that no region would be left behind in his fourth term. With a commanding majority now secured in parliament, Browne and the ABLP are set to formally take office for their new term, with priorities focused on advancing ongoing national development projects and delivering on campaign pledges to all segments of the population.

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.

In the wake of a crushing general election defeat that left Antigua’s United Progressive Party (UPP) with just one seat in national parliament, prominent regional pollster Peter Wickham has publicly cast doubt on the long-term future of current UPP leader Jamale Pringle, arguing the party’s membership is unlikely to retain him as the face of the opposition moving forward.

Pringle, who currently serves as the official opposition leader, is the only UPP candidate to retain his parliamentary seat: he held onto his constituency of All Saints East and St. Luke, while every other UPP challenger lost their bids to the ruling party. In his detailed post-election analysis, Wickham emphasized that Pringle’s survival at the polls is a product of unique local constituency strengths, not broad national appeal or strong leadership that can unify the party ahead of the next electoral cycle. The pollster framed Pringle’s current position as opposition leader as little more than a quirk of circumstance — he is simply the “last man standing” after the election rout, not the party’s chosen candidate for long-term leadership.

Wickham pointed to a growing mismatch between Pringle’s parliamentary role and the confidence of rank-and-file UPP members, warning that this gap will likely fuel growing internal friction within the party in the coming months. “This does not mean that you are the best person to be [leader],” he noted in his analysis. To resolve this structural tension, Wickham predicts the UPP will follow a model common across other Caribbean political systems by splitting the roles of parliamentary leader and national party leader, allowing the party to install an extra-parliamentary leader to guide the organization through its rebuilding phase.

“My sense now is that I don’t believe that he will lead the UPP for much longer… I think that they will revert to a situation where they have extra-parliamentary leadership,” Wickham stated. This shift, he argued, would make clear the UPP’s lack of confidence in Pringle’s ability to rebuild the party and lead it to electoral success in future cycles, even despite voters choosing to return him to parliament. For Pringle, Wickham suggested a graceful path forward that would cement his legacy within the party: acknowledge his current limitations, actively facilitate a leadership transition, and clear the way for a younger, more energized candidate to take the reins. A move of that nature, Wickham added, would earn Pringle lasting respect from party members regardless of the outcome of the leadership debate.

The UPP now enters a critical period of organizational rebuilding following its historic election defeat, with key questions hanging over the party’s ideological direction, internal unity, and long-term leadership structure. Wickham called the unfolding situation “fascinating,” drawing parallels to past election cycles across the Caribbean where opposition parties were left with barely any parliamentary representation and were forced to completely reimagine their leadership frameworks to remain competitive.