Browne Rejects Claims Money Decided Election Outcome
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has rejected suggestions that money and gifts played a decisive role in the outcome of the April 30 general election, arguing that most voters in Antigua and Barbuda do not support political parties based on inducements.
Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne said his decades of campaigning experience have shown that only a very small percentage of electors seek gifts from politicians during election periods.
“I can tell the people of Antigua and Barbuda, less than 3% of electors will ask for a gift,” Browne said.
The prime minister said the governing Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party won the election because voters supported its record and policies, not because of campaign spending or alleged bribery.
“This idea that you’re bribing people,” Browne said dismissively before arguing that most voters “have their pride” and do not ask politicians for favors.
“Even if they have needs, they will not ask,” he added.
Browne also pointed to the scale of the ABLP’s election victory as evidence that money alone could not have determined the result.
“Now, when you look at the percentage by which we demolish them … we got 61%. They got 37%. We beat them by 24%,” Browne said.
He argued that allegations of widespread bribery made little sense given the margin of victory, contrasting the result with the much narrower 2023 election outcome.
The ABLP won 15 of the country’s 17 parliamentary seats in the April 30 general election, securing a fourth consecutive term in office.
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I want to let the Prime Minister know, we are not all fools in this Country, it might not be the amount of people who ask, over the years the people’s minds have been conditioned starting with the give-a-way of ham, turkey and other gifts at Christmas and the same strategy was employed at election time with appliances, lumber and big money. Most people do not have to ask, they know it’s what ABLP do and expect to receive it
@Capone, this Prime Minister really does take Antiguans for ignoramuses or “deracinated” imbeciles. Take your pick boss!
If throwing around pre-election money around left, right and centre; then why do it in the first instance if it wasn’t necessary to do so? And also remember this wasn’t Browne’s first rodeo in utilising the ABLP’S numerous money trees.
It makes you wonder who really is “deracinated?”
Antigua have adapted a Jamaican way of politics over the years, that’s a fact. Quid Pro Quo.
Manley and Seaga executed that style of politics to perfection.
You ain’t fooling anyone GB..it is what you have made it, just accept it and move on.
Go ask the Spanish for their votes without any favors offered and see what happens?
But we all know the answer..give it a rest.
One thing about this Prime Minister he can tell a lie with the straightest of straight faces. None of your election victories have ever been achieved without money and a wide variety of gifts not involved. That’s what you have reduced the poor people to. CHARLATANISM is just a way of life for you
Take a glance back at the 2018 General Elections. The Candidates for the ruling Party were allegedly given one million dollars to aid their campaigns and we saw how the Lawless Leader became furious when one candidate lost his bid as a result of pocketing a greater portion of the money, instead of doling it out to the registered Constituents. Remember he had already confidently boasted that they were going to make a clean sweep, knowing that they had the means to purchase votes. We saw the same format play out in this 2026 general elections too.
Money dey GI way? How mi nevr get none
@ City South OG
They know who to target. If you are a sure X they have no reason to waste resources on you. The money is to buy the uncertain votes
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