Parliament Dissolved After Browne Grants Opposition Extra Time Before Elections
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Parliament has been dissolved in Antigua and Barbuda, after Prime Minister Gaston Browne moved ahead with plans he outlined last Friday, saying the government delayed the process slightly to give the opposition time to prepare for elections.
Addressing Parliament, Browne confirmed he had written to Governor General Rodney Williams invoking Section 60 of the Constitution to dissolve Parliament, setting the stage for a general election expected within weeks.
He revealed that the administration had initially intended to dissolve Parliament immediately and issue the writ the same day, which would have led to elections within 21 days.
However, Browne said that plan was adjusted after colleagues urged him to show “a little mercy,” as the opposition had not yet finalized its slate of candidates.
“We don’t want to put the opposition at a major disadvantage,” he told the House, adding that they would be given only a short window — less than a week — to get ready.
The Prime Minister indicated that he will instruct the Governor Genersl when to issue the writ of election. If issued later this month, voting would take place 21 days afterward, potentially placing elections toward the end of April.
He also signalled that the timeline will remain tight, noting the government does not intend to extend the preparation period beyond a few additional days.
The dissolution formally ends the current parliamentary term and launches the country into election mode, with key dates for nominations and polling expected to be announced once the writ is issued.
It is widely anticipated that the ABLP Llader will announce the election date when the party launches its re-election bid on April 7.
Meanwhile, Browne has warned supporters of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party against complacency, despite polling data suggesting a strong lead ahead of the vote.
Speaking on his weekly radio programme, he said supporters must ensure they are prepared to vote and complete voter identification requirements, cautioning that overconfidence could hurt turnout.
“It is not won until it is won,” Browne said, recalling that some supporters stayed home during the 2023 election believing victory was assured.
He pointed to new polling figures showing the ABLP at 49 per cent support compared with 26 per cent for the United Progressive Party, while his personal approval rating stands at 59 per cent against 15 per cent for Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle.
Browne said the data reflects what he described as a “decisive shift” in voter support, adding that surveys conducted by regional pollsters in Barbados and Jamaica showed similar trends. The UPP has not publicly responded to the claims.
In a further development, the Democratic National Alliance has announced it will not contest the upcoming election. The party, led by former legislator Joanne Massiah, said the decision was made unanimously by its management committee.
The DNA thanked its supporters and confirmed it would sit out the snap polls expected within the coming weeks.
At the last general election held on January 18, 2023, the ABLP secured nine of the 17 seats, with the remaining seats going to the UPP and one independent candidate.
With Parliament now dissolved and the writ of election pending, political parties are expected to intensify preparations as the country moves rapidly toward another general election.
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UPP 17-0. PM Pringle and GG Gisselle on the way.
Hopefully, the Honourable Jamal Pringle and his vibrant team have their financial backers from overseas and at home, that’ll help Antigua & Barbuda 🇦🇬 recover their global standing.
And hopefully, with the help of former DNA supporters and former leader Joanne to help get the UPP over the electoral winning line, thenbmaybe, just maybe there’s hope for a political upset in the air.
I firmly believe that the ABLP giant has “feet” of clay.
LET’S GO OUT, VOTE AND MAKE REAL CHANGE
UPP, the ‘David’ to topple the ABLP ‘Goliath’…
Remember, we always see our glass as half FULL (positive), whereas the ABLP supporters see theirs as half EMPTY (negativity personified).
UPP all the way 🟨🟦🟨🟦 to lead A & B again
ABLP will win ALL 17 seats. How the hell can UPP go to the polls with 15 percent in the POLLS.
DEFINITELY a. LOSER . ABLP will win ALL 17 SEATS.
Gaston news site enjoy putting his picture against Pringle who is new to politics and the people, he dare not put up his picture beside Lovell or Bowen, and if he does he will have his news site put up a doctored photo very dark as those white racist news site does. Just playing to the people psychology.
UPP 15 percent in the POLLS. Cannot win election.
ABLP will ALL 17 SEATS.
ROLL OUT THE BIG RED MACHINE TONIGHT. CRUSH the UPP . ABLP 17 will win 17 seats.
@Brixton
keep JOANNE MASSIAH name out you mouth. You and the wicked UPP.
Them and Lovell will reap what they sowed against Joanne MASSIAH.
Gad nar sleep
Justice, integrity, and compassion—is a form of stewardship that fosters God’s kingdom on earth. By aligning with, praying for, and upholding such leaders, believers act as ambassadors of Christ’s values, promoting righteousness over self-interest.
@Eldread – How you so insipid? Is Lovell or Bowen the leader of the opposition? Why will they be putting up his picture against either of them? Come on man. Use your brain. Y’all just continue to show y’all incompetence. Dat mek any sense to you? And for the record, Pringle is not new to politics. Y’all ALWAYS making excuses for them. When will they be ready for Prime Time? Just all round dunceniss!!!
VOTERS PLEASE LOOK INSIDE OF YOURSELVES AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.YOUR DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON HANDOUTS.FOR WHEN THOSE HANDOUTS ARE GONE,THEN WHAT.LOOK AT THE COUNTRY FROM 2014 TO NOW.HAVE WE AS A NATION MOVED FORWARD OR STILL STANDING IN NEUTRAL? I CAN TELL YOU. THE COUNTRY NEEDS A CLEANSING AT THIS TIME.IT IS AS FILTHY AS I HAVE EVER SEEN AND SMELLS PISSY IN ST JOHNS.SHAMEFUL,DAMN SHAMEFUL.THIS ADMINISTRATION DO NOT CARE ABOUT US,THE VOTERS.THEY ARE ALL IN THERE TO ENRICH SELF AND FAMILY MEMBERS.LOOK THEIR WEALTH FROM 2014 TO NOW 2026.SOME OF THEM HAVE BECOME MULTI-MILLIONAIRES IN THAT SPAN.WHILE THE VOTERS HAVE GOTTEN POORER AND POOREST.LET US VOTE THEM TO HELL OUT,THIS TIME AROUND.
Gaston must go…thts enough…don’t do like Dominica🇩🇲🇩🇲
I mantain that if there is a choice to be made, I would rather a DUNCE than a TIEF, or deceitful guys like ANTHONY JUDAS SMITH, LAMMING JUDAS NEWTON, PHILMORE JUDAS BENJAMIN, DEMANI JUDAS (secret giver) TABOR……………
…..HOW CAN ANYONE TRUST THESE PEOPLE, NOT TO MENTION THE ACCUSED MICHAEL ‘AUCTION’ FREELAND……AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON……
………BUT ONLY IN ANTIGUA
@bsc, the town smells pissy because molwyn cause strife and dysfunction in the sanitation and health dept
Wow @Sherfield, ah now you decide to wake up in the ANR comments about me! Is wha’ happen to you, and what took you so damn long?
Mind you, I do welcome a lot more competitive and constructive dialogue from other ABLP acolytes and Gastonites like yourself. My only hope is that you are good at contextualisation and clarification (justvlike myself 😉) instead of resorting to cussing and cursing – it only highlights the untutored.
And furthermore, unless you already use a good Thesaurus, a volume of Dictionaries and reliable sources for fact checking, then I may have cause for concern.
But reading from your previous ANR commentaries, I see nothing to worry ’bout…
However, good luck Sup, Brixtonian ready 👍🏾
It is sad that the battles that were fought so that the ordinary man could vote is being turned into a spectacle of mockery and redicule.
Please tell me what pleasure is there to be gained from entering our fourth elections in twelve years.
Not even the framers of the constitution envisaged that grred for power would turn the system into such a laughing matter.
So for the corrupt ones seeking to use the system to avoid your day of reckoning be advised that the longest rope has an end.
Only cowards are always seeking advantageous unscrupulous ways to remain in office.
Elections should be fought on track record or performance by incumbents and by realistic promises by those seeking to unseat them.
Sadly our incumbent has mastered the art of buying Elections every two to three years while the country races down an abyss of doom, gloom, stagnation and retrogression.
Now they gonna disturb my peace ✌️ in the morning allow me to sleep oh murder im already screaming i wan my sleep don’t disturb
And now the mass give aways to buy votes begins…
One vote they cannot buy or bride is mine. They need to put taxpayers money into improving the country infrastructure, water supply, and healthcare. Then the other areas of the country fall in lines after those three main areas showed some improvement.
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