Antigua and Barbuda advised to implement campaign finance reform

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Commonwealth Observers Renew Call for Campaign Finance Reform

Commonwealth election observers have renewed calls for Antigua and Barbuda to strengthen its campaign finance laws, warning that greater transparency and oversight are needed to bolster public confidence in the electoral process.

In its final report on the April 30, 2026 general election, the Commonwealth Observer Group said concerns surrounding campaign finance regulation remain unresolved despite similar recommendations being made following previous elections.

The group urged the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) and Parliament to advance legislation governing political finance, including campaign financing, as a matter of priority.

“Such legislation should identify the sources and use of funds, limit contributions from donors, and regulate expenditure by candidates and political parties,” the report stated.

Observers also recommended the establishment of a more robust political finance transparency system, including spending limits, mandatory disclosure of donors and regulation of digital political advertising. The report suggested that a specialized regulatory unit within ABEC could be empowered to enforce the rules.

The Commonwealth team noted that campaign finance in Antigua and Barbuda remains lightly regulated, with limited transparency requirements and few effective controls on political donations. While spending caps exist under electoral laws, the report said they are outdated and poorly enforced, and there is no system of public funding for political parties.

According to the report, political campaigns are largely financed through private contributions, often with limited disclosure, while oversight powers remain constrained.

The issue was highlighted in the observer group’s overall assessment of the election. While the observers concluded that the polls were conducted in a peaceful, orderly and transparent manner, they identified campaign finance transparency and accountability as areas requiring reform.
The report said stronger regulation of political financing would align Antigua and Barbuda with international best practices and help strengthen trust in the country’s democratic institutions.

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5 COMMENTS

  1. Not once Gaston and Labour in Office. That’s how Gaston wins elections. That is why asking them to come here is a waste of time. Didn’t Gaston say he has so much money remaining from the last election. The question is where are they getting it. Could it be the wicked Business People who murder us daily with government complicity

  3. Left alone for implementation by this labour government, this will NEVER happen.
    This government will never implement any law that will change its DNA.
    Corruption is fhe life blood of the ALP.
    They cannot campaign.
    As such, buying votes is part of their DNA.
    Therefore any legislation that would restrict their life blood is a NO nO No.
    Except the body GIVES the law to Antigua to debate in its parliament there will NEVER be campaign financing.
    All labour parties in the Caribbean are the same.
    The Dominica Labour Party secured the expertise of renowned caribbean jurist Sir Dennis Byron to develop new legislation to reform its electoral laws and processes.
    When the leader saw the words CAMPAIGN FINANCING he immediately turned wild and threw the report in the dust bin.
    Labour parties in the caribbean is an ALL BOYS CLUB.
    They do not believe in fairness.
    So a call on this labour party to implement campaign financing laws is a definite NO NO.
    They will NEVER implement that.

  4. The Commonwealth Observer Group regurgitate the same report election after election, yet nothing ever changes. Money rules the day in our election and the more money you have, the easier your chance of winning. How political parties raise monies and how campaign monies are used to bribe and influence voters will never change in the current environment. Incumbent parties even uses the state resources to advance political agendas as if it is normal and neither citizens nor the local election body is perturbed by this. We have moved to a place where our democracy is for sale and it’s usually to the highest bidder.

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