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.
分类： politics
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Dwayne George hails St Mary’s South win as ‘only the beginning’
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.
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Gaston Browne secures historic 4th term
In a high-stakes political move that has reshaped the landscape of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s decision to call a snap general election nearly two years before its constitutionally mandated deadline has delivered a historic, resounding victory for his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).
Preliminary results released by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) confirm the ABLP secured 15 out of the 17 contested parliamentary seats, a dramatic reversal of the party’s narrow 9-7 majority win in the January 2023 poll. The landslide win also marks a historic milestone for Browne, who easily retained his long-held St. John’s City West seat – a constituency he has represented since 1999 – making him the first prime minister in the nation’s history to win four consecutive general elections.
Addressing jubilant supporters following the result, Browne expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming public confidence placed in both his leadership and the ABLP’s agenda for continued national progress. “We are humbled and honoured by your support and confidence. Now is the time to move forward together, build on our gains and continue our work toward the betterment of our society and the upliftment of our people,” Browne wrote in a post on the ruling party’s official Facebook page.
Outlining his policy priorities for the new term, Browne emphasized that inclusive growth and expanded opportunity would remain at the core of his administration’s agenda. “Education, jobs, business opportunities will be open to all who are prepared to seize them. No one will be left behind who is willing to move forward,” he said, rejecting any suggestion of triumphalism after the landslide. “This is not a moment for gloating. The contest is over, and the 15-seat mandate is a resounding vote of confidence for which we are eternally grateful.”
Browne also stressed that the new term would see his administration accelerate ongoing national projects, advance new initiatives to strengthen the national economy, transform local communities, and improve living standards for all citizens. He called for collective productivity and national unity, noting that the government’s goal is to position Antigua and Barbuda as one of the most productive small island states in the world, while upholding national dignity in all regional and international forums. Notably, Browne’s wife Maria – the public works minister in the previous administration – also secured a comfortable win in the St. John’s Rural East constituency, defeating UPP candidate Ashworth Azille.
For the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), the election result was a devastating blow: only party leader Jamale Pringle managed to hold onto his seat, defeating ABLP candidate Anthony Smith. On the sister isle of Barbuda, incumbent Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) retained his seat, winning 609 votes against ABLP challenger Kendra Beazer’s 398. All three independent candidates contesting the election failed to gain traction, losing their deposits.
Pringle extended congratulations to the ABLP on their victory, telling supporters that the UPP would remain active in opposition. “There’s no second place in politics, but just as we did in 2018, we’ll still be standing. The UPP is not going anywhere,” he said.
Regional political analysts have weighed in on the historic result, pointing to deep internal divisions within the UPP as a key driver of the party’s collapse. Barbados-based pollster Peter Wickham, who conducted pre-election opinion polling, noted that the UPP’s strong 2023 performance, which saw the party win seven seats, had “completely evaporated” in this poll, with an overall five percent swing toward the ABLP across the mainland.
Local political analyst Professor Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, observed that the result highlighted key weaknesses in the UPP’s leadership, noting that the electorate delivered a clear verdict on Browne’s leadership and the ABLP’s agenda. Robinson pointed out that Pringle, the only remaining UPP MP, is now the “only man standing” for the opposition, a dynamic that mirrors past election results in other Caribbean nations including St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Still, Wickham argued that Pringle’s retention of his seat is largely a product of long-standing constituency strength rather than public confidence in his national leadership, and called on him to step down as UPP leader to allow the party to rebuild with extra-parliamentary leadership.
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Browne Vows ‘No Abuse of Trust’ as He Thanks Voters for Rejecting ‘Slander’ in Landslide Victory
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.
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Gaston Browne to Be Sworn This Morning After Landslide Victory
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.
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Wickham Questions Pringle’s Future as UPP Leader, Suggests Party May Look Elsewhere
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.
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Pringle Concedes Defeat, Says UPP Will Speak ‘In a Short Time’ After Heavy Loss
Following the final vote count in Antigua and Barbuda’s snap general election held Thursday, United Progressive Party (UPP) leader Jamale Pringle has publicly conceded defeat to the incumbent ruling party, confirming the main opposition bloc suffered one of its most devastating electoral losses in modern history.
In a brief address to reporters late Thursday evening, Pringle extended formal congratulations to the winning Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) on their electoral triumph, and noted that the UPP would release a full statement detailing its future path in the near future.
Final vote tabulations left the UPP with just a single seat in the national Parliament, marking a dramatic collapse from its previous legislative representation. Pringle himself was the only UPP candidate to secure victory, holding onto his All Saints East and St. Luke constituency against challengers from the ABLP.
Reframing the outcome through the lens of his narrow individual win, Pringle pushed back on narratives of total failure, noting that any electoral victory, regardless of margin, counts as a win. “When you win by one vote or ten votes, you’re the winner. There’s no second place,” he explained.
The election delivered a historic landslide to ABLP, which is led by incumbent Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who will now begin an unprecedented fourth consecutive term as head of government.
Despite the lopsided result, Pringle struck a measured tone in his concession, emphasizing gratitude to every person who supported the UPP campaign. He extended thanks not only to on-the-ground party members and local voters but also to UPP supporters living overseas who contributed time and resources to the opposition’s election push.
Calling for unity and stability across the islands in the wake of the vote, Pringle urged all political stakeholders and voters to maintain a peaceful, respectful post-election environment. “All I say is peace,” he added.
Looking ahead to his new term in office, Pringle affirmed his commitment to serving the constituents that re-elected him, saying he would build on the policy and community work his administration delivered after the 2018 general election. “People have the confidence in me and I will deliver for the people, just as we did in 2018,” he said.
The crushing defeat leaves the UPP at a major crossroads, requiring a full period of internal assessment and organizational rebuilding after one of the worst setbacks in the party’s history. Pringle’s signal that a full UPP statement is coming in the near days indicates the party’s leadership has already begun the process of regrouping to plan for the next electoral cycle.
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‘Express’ wins appeal over police search
A landmark ruling from Trinidad and Tobago’s Court of Appeal has cemented critical protections for press freedom in the country, after the judiciary sided with Trinidad Express Newspapers Ltd in an appeal brought by state law enforcement and a senior police superintendent.
The legal battle traces back to a 2020 investigative report published by the Express, written by veteran journalist Denyse Renne, which exposed questionable financial transactions linked to a high-ranking police official. In the wake of the publication, police launched a probe into alleged “tipping off” violations, led by Superintendent Wendell Lucas, and secured judicial search warrants to enter the newspaper’s Port of Spain headquarters. The stated goal of the operation was to unmask Renne’s confidential source.
On March 11, 2020, law enforcement executed the second of the two approved warrants, entering the Express’ headquarters, Express House, and seizing four digital flash drives from the office of then-editor-in-chief Omatie Lyder. The media entities involved—parent company One Caribbean Media Ltd, the Express itself, and Lyder—immediately challenged the constitutionality of the warrants. They argued that the search violated fundamental rights enshrined in Trinidad and Tobago’s constitution, specifically the guarantee of press freedom outlined in Section 4(k).
The case was first heard at the High Court, which ruled in favor of the media group and struck down both warrants as unconstitutional. Undeterred, the Office of the Attorney General and police appealed that ruling, asking the higher court to overturn the lower court’s decision.
In the judgment delivered Wednesday, a majority of the three-justice panel upheld the core of the High Court’s ruling that the executed search violated constitutional press freedom protections. Justices of Appeal Nolan Bereaux and Peter Rajkumar formed the majority, while Justice James Aboud issued a separate dissenting opinion, marking a clear split among the judiciary on the balance between police investigative powers and press rights.
Writing the lead majority judgment, Justice Bereaux reaffirmed that the second search warrant was unlawful on two key grounds: first, police failed to submit sufficient evidence to justify granting the warrant, and second, the Justice of the Peace who approved the warrant did not conduct the required balancing of competing public interests. “The justice of the peace could neither be satisfied that there was probable cause for the search nor that the search struck the right balance,” Bereaux explained.
The justice emphasized that when law enforcement seeks to search a media organization—especially for the purpose of identifying a confidential journalistic source—extraordinary care must be taken to balance the public interest in solving crime against the foundational role of a free press in democratic governance. “The sanctity of the confidentiality of journalistic sources is an essential element of the right to freedom of the press,” he added.
The court also highlighted two additional flaws in the warrant: its overly broad scope, which allowed police to search nearly all of the newspaper’s electronic data without any restrictions or safeguards to protect unrelated confidential material, and the absence of any evidence that police had exhausted alternative, less intrusive investigation methods before targeting the newsroom.
While the majority departed from the High Court on one narrow point—finding the first, never-executed warrant did not itself violate constitutional rights—it upheld the ruling that the second executed warrant and the seizure of the flash drives were unconstitutional. In a departure from the lower court’s order that damages be assessed at a later hearing, the appellate panel awarded the media respondents a fixed compensation sum of TT$25,000, framing the award as a deliberate step to vindicate the fundamental right to press freedom.
In his concurring opinion, Justice Rajkumar echoed the majority’s concerns, agreeing that the warrants were impermissibly broad and failed to properly account for their harmful impact on journalistic work, including the risk of creating a chilling effect that would discourage sources from coming forward with information of public interest.
In his dissenting opinion, Justice Aboud took an alternative position on the legal and constitutional questions raised by the case, underscoring the court’s internal division over how much latitude police should have to intrude on media operations in the course of criminal investigations.
Legal teams for both sides were led by senior bar members: Sophia Chote SC, Peter Carter, and Samantha Ramsaran represented One Caribbean Media, the Express, and Lyder, while Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, Rishi Dass, and Kadine Matthews argued the case for the state.
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WORLD BANK COMES TO T&T
In a landmark move set to reshape development cooperation and investment prospects for the twin-island nation, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has formalized an agreement with the World Bank Group to open a permanent, fully operational office in the capital city of Port of Spain. The deal, inked at St Ann’s Diplomatic Centre by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar alongside senior World Bank Group leadership, brings all four core arms of the global institution—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)—under one local roof.
The agreement establishes a clear legal and operational framework for the World Bank Group’s in-country presence, outlining a full suite of internationally recognized privileges and immunities that align with standard diplomatic practice for multilateral institutions. These protections include the inviolability of the organization’s office premises and archival records, limited immunity from legal proceedings for official acts, safeguards for the institution’s assets against seizure, search, or expropriation, and full autonomy over internal administrative and employment policies, which will remain governed by the World Bank Group’s own internal regulations. Additional terms grant the World Bank Group exemptions from all applicable taxes, customs duties, and levies on its operations, assets, and official transactions, while guaranteeing unrestricted access to global financial markets—the ability to hold and transfer funds in any currency without limitation—and the free import and export of equipment required for office operations, alongside access to secure, modern communication systems.
For Trinidad and Tobago’s government, the new permanent office represents far more than a diplomatic milestone: it is a strategic shift from intermittent, remote engagement with the World Bank to continuous, on-the-ground collaboration that will accelerate project delivery and strengthen national development efforts. Persad-Bissessar emphasized that the local presence will place the World Bank’s deep technical expertise and extensive financing capacity directly within Trinidad and Tobago’s borders, directly supporting the government’s core policy goals of economic diversification, private sector growth, and expanded job creation. A central pillar of this new partnership is a growing focus on public-private partnerships (PPPs), which the government has identified as a key driver of progress across critical infrastructure and social sectors.
Under the partnership framework, PPP initiatives will advance priority national projects in transportation infrastructure, integrated water management, public education, and healthcare delivery. These collaborations are designed to boost operational efficiency, speed up project implementation timelines, and expand access to much-needed capital for large-scale developments. Beyond public infrastructure, the partnership will also open new doors for local small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs, improving their access to affordable capital, specialized business advisory services, and global export markets. Critically, government officials note that the formalized partnership sends a clear, strong signal to international investors that Trinidad and Tobago offers a stable, transparent, and investor-friendly business environment.
A central component of the new agreement is the expanded role of the IFC, the World Bank Group’s private sector-focused arm, which will lead efforts to mobilize global investment and support project development across the country. To date, the IFC has already invested more than US$670 million in Trinidad and Tobago across key sectors including financial services, manufacturing, and business development, dating back to the country’s accession to the World Bank Group in the 1960s. The expanded local presence will now unlock even greater opportunities for local firms to access capital and participate in large-scale infrastructure and public service projects.
Planning Minister Dr Kennedy Swaratsingh first signaled the government’s intent to facilitate the new office in October of the previous year, framing the move as a critical step to unlock untapped financing opportunities for the Trinidad and Tobago private sector. In line with that vision, the government is currently working with the World Bank Group to develop a robust project investment pipeline, with projected financing for local business-focused projects ranging between US$1 billion and US$3 billion. Broader development financing initiatives across all sectors are projected to reach as much as US$5 billion over the next three to five years.
Beyond domestic benefits, the new permanent office also positions Trinidad and Tobago to serve as a regional hub for World Bank Group operations across the Caribbean, creating opportunities for the country to expand its regional influence and coordinate cross-border development initiatives. For both parties, the agreement marks a new era of continuous, close collaboration that is expected to deliver long-term economic and social benefits for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
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Michael Joseph defeats Richard Lewis to win SJRW for the ABLP
As vote counting progresses in the St. John’s Rural West (SJRW) constituency by-election, partial results released midway through the tallying process show a clear early lead for candidate Michael Joseph of the Antigua-Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).
With 65 percent of all ballots cast already processed by election officials, Joseph has secured 1,223 valid votes so far. His main challenger, United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate Richard Lewis, trails the frontrunner with 903 counted valid votes to his name. Independent candidate Nigel Bascus has only captured 2 votes in the partial count, while 5 ballots have been formally rejected for failing to meet electoral validity standards.
In total, 5,709 voters are officially registered to cast ballots in this SJRW constituency contest. Election workers continue to process the remaining uncounted ballots, with full final results expected to be released once all votes are verified and tallied. The outcome of this contest will shape the current legislative representation for the constituency, making the remaining counting process a closely watched event for both major political parties and local voters.