Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said that he tricked the main opposition parties into thinking that there will be early elections for two main reasons.
He announced last year that elections will come as a thief in the night.
The PM said since his statement “I recognise they are getting a little nervous.”
Speaking on a radio station owned by him on Saturday, he said he knew exactly what he was trying to achieve with his pronouncements.
“I wanted Harold Lovell to rush and firm up that weak team,” Browne who is also the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) leader said.
He told radio listeners that his strategy worked with and now the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is left with “weak elements.”
Browne repeated his allegations that there are criminal elements in the UPP. The ABLP leader said his second strategy is to get the UPP to spend off their election budget ahead of time.
“You say elections coming in February then start to spend.”
The prime minister also dismissed the months of February and March being predicted for the elections.
He argues that it will be impossible to call elections during these months because of the government’s heavy legislative agenda.
“First of all, you have to give at least a month’s notice for elections. Next week we have the Senate, the following week the throne speech, followed by the budget which is at the end of the month. Just based on the parliamentary agenda for this month you cannot call the election before the end of February.”
The PM said the month of March will be just as busy for legislators.
The government plans to roll out several billboards highlighting its ongoing projects and the PM said the opposition should not interpret this as a sign of an early general election.
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And this is why so many persons have argued that they’re should be a constitutional reform to confirm an election date.
This foolishness is childish. We need to progess!!
There.
My apologies
Don’t we already know when its due? Nothing should prevent any government from calling elections early. However the constitution ensures they cannot overstay
I agree with u
Of course he did and poor Joanne Massiah swallowed it hook line and sinker. Lol!!!
She sure did. LoL
And wanted to go even further to come to the public to show how “in the know” she is by giving the date even before the PM himself. So immature and just showing that she absolutely cannot be trusted with intel nor to run this country. I don’t know what nonsense that was.
Really what important information did she give out. Pls help me understand.PM is playing a game.I wish him well. Just be carefully because things have a way to back fire.
Will some one give Gaston Browne a lollipop. Does this guy take anything seriously!!!
He is taking it quite seriously, and will no doubt call it at the most strategic time for him and his party–as anyone leading would do.
This is the nature of elections. Former PM, Baldwin, used to be walking around with the date in his “back pocket” then “front pocket”. Teasing of elections is not at all new.
The difference then however was that the ALP did not run around like headless chickens just on starting to hear any reference to an election date.
He reminds me of Donald Trump sometimes. We don’t need games, just focus on the agenda.
Politics has an element of psychology in it but this just seems like childish games and only “die hard” supporters won’t see anything wrong.
Take a page from Obama, especially when being seen and heard in public, rise above norm and project confidence, maturity and leadership. Teach the youth to do the same instead of stopping to stone every “dog” that bark.
The most childish element I saw in this was Joanne Massiah running to come to give the public a date. She pass her place!!
Also, you will remember Baldwin did similar re election date. It is not “childish”; it is just part of the strategy and political process. The law says how much notice is required. The opposition should know to take these things with a grain of salt anyway.
The election date need to be fixed
The PM in his capacity has a constitutional duty to do whatever he feels necessary to protect and preserve our democracy, hence he needs no approval from anyone to do his job!!!
THE PM’S ACTION, COMMENTS & OUTBURST IS VERY CHILDISH, PM YOU NEED TO GROW UP, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ROBBED THE CRADLE YOU BECOME A CHILD YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE AROUND CHILDREN, THEREFORE; IT TAKES YOU BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD
By the way, the word is “duped” I believe, for the headline. With one “p”.
Yes the correct word is duped. Dupped is slang.
It is very sad to see and hear the head of Antigua and Barbuda is acting like a grade 4 child. It doesn’t seem that he is screwed to tight
Solo what the big difference
The former PM use to say the date is in his back pocket then it move to his side pocket then to his breast pocket
All them polticians act like them still in the 1st grade
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