Four-Way Race Shapes Up for ABLP St. Philip’s South Primary

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The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) is preparing for a closely watched primary in St. Philip’s South, where four contenders are vying for the party’s nomination ahead of the next general election.

Senator Kiz Johnson, a marketing specialist and lecturer active in youth initiatives, faces former MP and ex-Minister of Works Lennox Weston, who is seeking a political comeback. Entrepreneurs Adrian Richardson and Malcom Charles have also entered the race, each promoting business growth and youth engagement.

Party delegates are scheduled to vote on December 4, 2025. While the general election is not due until 2028, speculation about an early poll has intensified interest in the outcome, which insiders say could influence the ABLP’s broader campaign strategy.

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36 COMMENTS

  2. The two candidates for this primary should be Miss Johnson or Lenox Weston. Adrian Richardson is a con man and very dishonest. Ask him about vehicles down at customs.

  3. The ABLP has a fight on its hands for the next election. Do you seriously think gentle Kizzy ready? She should become Weston’s campaign Manager, work with him and once he is elected under study him. Then when he leaves succeed him and take ovet. That’s what I call political succession planning! The smart approach!

  4. Weston go rest you self, and allow Kix her time to shine

  5. We need more persons in politics with experience, a track record of service and will support the ABLP.leadership through these difficult times. Lets ne real and admit that the only one who has the strength to do this is Lennox Weston!

  6. The only one I feel confident with is Weston! The ABLP has many challenges and the party need a pit bull to go.out there and promote the many good policies it has! We are with you Weston!

  20. Four candidates? That’s going to be a tight race. Let’s hope the best person for the community wins, not just the most connected.

  22. So, senator Kiz Johnson is really not ‘independent’. She is ‘independent labour’.

    Another wolf in sheep clothing if you ask me.

  23. Freetown will never vote for Weston nor ABLP in mass numbers.
    Lenox cannot handle Bowen.
    Weston is the biggest loser who ever sought elected office.

  24. Pitbull Lennox was beaten by King Lion Bowen. He going back in the ring just to be mauled by the lion again?

  25. kiz is by far the better candidate. Of course she is equally intelligent and has a far better personality. She has educated herself and is well prepared. Secondly we need more women in politics. I will support her one 100%. Thirdly the political leader and the Chairman of the ABLP don’t want Lennox.
    Lenox her father gave you a run the first time you represented that constituency. After you won the primary by a close margin- Gaston tried put him ahead of you. It took you threatening to take the matter to court for him to back off. Then when you lost to Bowen you blamed Gaston for your loss and went about cursing him and the ABLP.
    So what are you going to do when this intelligent, professional, well spoken- professor tear your butt.

  26. So y r u really think Kizz was put in the senate . For goodness. Another gastonite to d pack. Gassy rules with his all his little henchmen he adding daily. Chet carn get to over throw he at all. Woiieee

  27. If the top is rotten, the entire body will follow suit.

    But I’m happy to see the toxicity of this party playing out on this forum for all to see.

    Some are praying for hope, instead of using their brains to make an inform decision about who should represent the people. This tells me that the ABLP supporters do not use their brains to vote and i also see how they get bought out election after election.

    But that corruption will soon come to an end in Antigua, trust me.

  28. So tell me something, if these political prospectives are so nice and intelligent as you all claim, and willing to become subordinates or lackeys of a guy like Gaston, what etiquette or moral capabilities they have ? Will they be able to function with integrity on behalf of the people or will they follow the permutations of the ALP and seek self enrichment? These people look anxious for their upward mobility.
    Some of them are nice people apparently on the outside, but underneath are snakes , that innocent young lady face will be a surprise when she starts to let say corroborate with Gaston on let say directing the police to shoot barbudans who protest over their lands been taken away as her first ministerial mandate, they are prepared and willing to carry out a criminal mandate for Gaston and ALP and white fly by night colonials, all these innocent , I mean the three prospective candidate leave out Weston who we know is already on the takes will break your heart as they set about to do Gaston biddings against the wishes of the people.
    This reminds me of Jacqui Quinn back in 2004 innocent look as the upp candidate, she was very shy, but became boisterous once elected. This young lady, and also this good young man Malcom surprised me that they will associate themselves with Gaston.

  29. Weston will rise again! So what if he lost the last election. His going back shows the resilience, fortitude and love for the constituency he has! This is more than others! Once the Primary is fairly done, Weston will emerge the winner!

  30. A former Minister of Public Works should never have lost his election and specifically not to a convicted murderer. I think he should retire from politics and remain an economic technocrat giving the Prime Minister much needed support in the ministry of Finance. Because that little boy Dwayne doesn’t have the knowledge nor the experience to be in that position in the ministry of Finance. That is too much of a heavy load for him. We need people with the experience of Lennox in there. Listening to him the other day in the senate he embarrassed us so badly that the President had to put him straight as to what the bill that he was contributing to had nothing to do with selling of derelict homes or beautification of the city. PM you should listen to these young Senators in parliament and see how bad or good they are and have a frank discussion with them behind close doors. They are sometime not ready yet and yes the Senate is a teaching ground, but if they do not improve their debating skills you should not hesitate to remove them. It should not be that in the Lower house you have such good debaters on the ABLP side but in the Upper House they are mediocre.

  31. ABLP do not have a chance next election… too much corruption… are you people living in closets or perhaps reaping the benefits from being with that administration.. no way they can win “RE MEMBER “. Something “SHADY” went down with the last one .. “REMEMBER?” .

  32. The Independent Senator should therefore resign

    I actually like Kiz Johnson. But she needs to set an example of integrity from now. The Constitution in conjunction with parliamentary norm and custom dictate that the 1 Senator whom the Government General appoints in his or her own discretion is the Independent Senator.

    While the Constitution does not actually call the position the “Independent Senator”, the distinction of them being independent of political affiliation is implied by the fact that they are not appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Barbuda Council, or any other elected or appointed political office or authority.

    Whether or not Senator Johnson had any political leaning up till now is irrelevant as she has done well if so, not to put them on display, as she was right to do. But now that she is running in a primary for the Labour Party, it clearly indicates that she is a member of the Labour Party, and more than that, an active politician.

    She cannot maintain her current office which is an office that is supposed to be independent of political affiliation while she is publicly participating in an a primary election.

    If she refuses to step aside, she will unfortunately join Bakesha Francis who was also the Independent Senator, while simultaneously being a known and active member of the Labour Party as high as being a significant functionary ar the branch level.

    It was shameful when Sir Rodney appointed an active officer in the Labour Party to the post. And while Bakesha’s conduct in office was not an issue, her wearing both caps certainly was for anyone who actually cares about doing things the right way.

    If Senator Johnson wishes to be a Labour Party politician, which she now is by the fact that she is running in a Labour Party primary election, then she needs to resign from the post of Independent Senator.

    Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, Section 28, (4):

    “Subject to subsection (7) of this section, one Senator shall be appointed by the Governor-General in his discretion from outstanding persons or persons representing such interests as the Governor-General considers ought to be represented in the Senate.”

    Since the constitution already discusses politically appointed Senators in previous sections who are appointed in accordance with the advice of the Opposition Leader, the Prime Minister or the Barbuda Council, it is implied that the Governor General’s appointee shall represent interests other than those already provided for.

    Senator Johnson, please do the right thing. I wish you success with your endeavour, but do not continue the trend of politically tainting the office of the Independent Senator. We have just one.

    Trinidad and Tobago has 9. Barbados has 7. We have just 1. That it remaon independent is not too much to ask. As citizens, we shouldn’t have to beg our officials to respect the offices they occupy and to separate their personal or political interests from the image and interest and integrity of the office they occupy.

  33. Mr Weston got his first time in office already, he shouldn’t be in this race. He never had interactions with certain individuals, when u make an appointment to see u, his secretary makes up an excuse … u should stay out of politics because u dont do anything for the constituency.. look at the roads and u were Minister of Public Works.. Really!!! Lest we forget

  34. The conditions of the newly built highways are atrocious. We need to find out from the Rice Pudding Man if the deals that he made with Bahama Hot Mess are the restraints that shut him down from taking action. He threatened the company with withholding their payments for the shoddy work and he cowered after they planned to expose him. He should be eliminated from the race. Two other persons on the slate should also be rejected as their names have been mentioned in racketeering. They have been identified as members of the Chain Gang. The ALP only attracts dishonests. They are avoiding the UPP because the Syndicate Boss and the same Rice Pudding Man reminded them that only the ALP has the expertise and experience to ‘thief’. That’s why they are called to Com Raid.

  35. She will remain independent until election is called. Same as Anthony Smith, who is now an independent parliamentarian seen on stage in the recent town-hall meeting with the leaders of ABLP.

  36. So first it was Anthony Smith who practically swore up and down he was independent. But he’s eating drinking breathing speaking everything ABLP. Now Kiz who has been claiming independence has come out declaring what I’ve suspected all along: running in politics under the ABLP ticket. I personally feel hoddwinked and lied to by both persons. I doubt anyone can convince me that they didn’t have affiliation with the ABPL all along, fully knowing their intenions but claiming otherwise. I personally viewed both persons as individuals of high integrity, but saying you’re independent with non-independent intentions constitutes a lie plain and simple. Seems to be forming a party habit, and the start to a slippery slope towards constant deception of the electorate.
    I’m tired of the lies, but now I wonder if there’s anybody else in the woodwork who is gonna climb onto the ABLP bandwagon after lying to us with claims of independence.

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