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Leadership Battle Erupts in Antigua and Barbuda’s Spanish Community as Martinez Calls January 2026 Election
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A deepening leadership dispute has shaken Antigua and Barbuda’s Spanish community as longtime representative Alex Martinez faces mounting accusations that he has no legitimate claim to the position he has held for years.
The controversy has intensified to the point that Martinez and his team have now called formal elections for January 2026.
Martinez, who has acted as a de facto spokesperson for the more than 17,000 Spanish-speaking residents, has never been officially appointed or elected.
Critics say that reality undermines his authority and exposes what they describe as a “self-assumed” leadership operating without accountability.
The backlash, which has simmered for months, recently escalated into open calls for his removal.
Challenging his opponents directly, Martinez urged those who question him to stop “operating in the shadows” and face him at the polls.
“Now is the time to come forward,” he said, inviting anyone with “personal ego or personal matter” to contest the seat through what he described as a democratic, transparent election.
Martinez said he first became an active leader during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Spanish embassy and consulate temporarily left the country.
He said he and other volunteers organized communication networks, helped families secure food, and intervened in immigration and domestic issues during the lockdown.
The work, he said, cemented his role as the community’s primary point of contact.
But Martinez acknowledged a strained and hostile relationship with the Spanish consulate, accusing diplomats of abandoning residents and failing to communicate with them about critical matters.
He said the consulate and ambassador “disrespected” the community and claimed they receive “big money to come here and do nothing,” while he and his team were left to handle crises.
The consulate has been contacted for comment.
His team insists that the upcoming vote will affirm his leadership.
Jesse Shawn, a member of Martinez’s inner circle, said the community has seen better treatment and greater advocacy since Martinez became its de facto leader.
He predicted that “after election, diplomacy will be better,” arguing that past patterns show Martinez enjoys strong support.
The election scheduled for January 2026 marks what observers say will be the most consequential leadership test the Spanish community has faced.
The result is expected to determine not only who speaks for thousands of residents, but whether the community is ready to move toward “unity, accountability, and transparent governance”—or whether longstanding divisions deepen.
For now, all eyes remain on the January vote, with residents awaiting a decision that could either settle the dispute or ignite an even larger fight over legitimacy and direction.
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Transparency and proper procedures need to be followed; no one should just claim leadership without consensus.
He is a great person who looks out for we the people in Antigua. We never see others we see alex
Ese ladronazo no lo queremos ya por mentiroso y ladron
who the hell gave this guy that position? I think the Hispanic community needs to get its act together and hold elections regularly
Soooo he wasnt the real leader all the time? Antigua full of jokes
Name me one Spanish speaking country in the southern hemisphere that has ever held a fair and honest election?
I’ll wait..
Dictatorship is in these people’s blood and culture. from the caribs to the indigenous people of the Andes, it’s their culture.
Dictate to the so-called lesser species.
Alex is just acting out what he knows..
Don’t blame him, it’s his upbringing.
Who told this man he is a leader?
I’m living in Antigua for 15 years and I never heard that position..Leader of Spanish community? What is that title came from?
That’s a government funds allocated to this type of” Group”?
Elections? Elections for what? In base what law? That’s not Elections allowed by Antigua and Barbuda Constitution…Jamaican also do this? Guyanese also do this? I want to know what part Antigua and Barbuda government structure some “community” is part of. I’m Cuban, and this guy is from Dominican Republic..And he is putting all “Spanish Community” in that bag. There is Colombians, Mexican, Cubans, Dominicanos, Spanish (From Spain) and others living here…Who toldd this guy he can just jump and give him a title of Leader of Spanish Community. Stop this nonsense. If any party (ABLP or UPP) is taking this guy as a leader. Then how the Constitution of Antigua and laws backup this? Something I don’t understand over here. As Cuban I don’t approve this..Antigua have his government structure already.
Is there any regulation in Antigua that control any kind of NGO, Religion group, Political Party. I want to know if there is a registration of “Spanish Community Board” as part of the government.
If you migrate to Antigua you need to obey the Antigua laws.
If you speak X language you are going to claim some “Leader Title” for that.
This so called “Spanish Community” is register in Antigua? Do they have a file with the description and how they operate, prupose, how to become a member, how they do the financial, or anything?
Is the government of Antigua aware of it? Elections? Elections for what?
They are going to do a Independent Government over here apart with the Government of Antigua?
I really want to know what is the position of Antigua because I’m really interested to create a Independent Government over here (I’m just joking) but 17 thousands people is good number to do a real push against any traditional political Party of Antigua.
@Carlos,
This man is a hussle and he is likely to get away with his hussle.
He call an election to elect himself. Any type of election should be held under the sponsorship of the Consulate and the Ambassador.
Is he trying to make himself the de facto ambassador?
I’m not surprised if he gets away with it; for this place is a hussle r ts paradise
@Hustlers: exactly..but they need to clarify that he want to become the “Leader” of people from Dominican Republic. But being the “leader of Spanish Community” is misleading because I’m from different Spanish speaking country and I don’t want to be I side that bag.
I don’t know how Antigua government is going to accept this, Because I think is the Consulate who is supposed to represent all interests of Dominican Republic in Antigua.
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