ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Despite numerous calls for recount of ballots from yesterday’s (Mar. 12) General Elections, the incumbent United Progressive Party (UPP) has been officially announced as the party to form the next government.
UPP claimed nine of 17 seats, making it the second and consecutive term for the party.
Under the leadership of Baldwin Spencer, the UPP have so far won the Elections by amassing 21 205 votes, a narrow 1745 votes more than the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) which managed to capture only 46.95% of votes cast.
The majority of the UPP representatives were returned to Parliament including Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, Harold Lovell, Hubert John Maginley, Baldwin Spencer, Hilson Baptiste, Eleston Adams, Wilmoth Daniel, Chester Hughes and Lorencezo Codrington.
The Antigua Labour Party (ALP), led by former PM Lester Bird was able to claim seven seats after Bird displaced former Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort. He was joined in the victor’s spotlight by Asot Michael, Robin Yearwood, Molwyn Joseph, Eustace Lake, Steadroy Benjamin, Gaston Browne to form the Opposition.
The Barbuda People’s Movement’s (BPM) Trevor Walker, in an unprecedented one-vote win was able to garner 474 votes, securing Barbuda for his party, a close ally of UPP.
The election was not without controversy however, as notable discrepancies such as the late opening of polling stations, insufficient number of ballots for some constituencies, unfavourable transfer of voters due to changes made by the Boundaries Commission and the questionable registration process resulted in citizen unrest.
SKNVibes contacted Supervisor of Elections Lorna Simon who informed that the Electoral Commission is aware that there had been irregularity with a number of polling stations; an issue she hopes would be immediately resolved by the Commission.
“We are aware that polling stations in 5 of the 16 constituencies were opened late and this problem has created some talk. However, the Commission will assess the situation and will make a statement in this regard. That is all I’m willing to comment on,” said Simon.
Today (Mar. 13) has been declared a public holiday as UPP celebrates its close victory and as the nation ushers in its reigning UPP Government. Official reports from the Organization of American States (OAS) and Commonwealth elections observers are expected to soon be forthcoming and would outline flaws in the electoral process and offer recommendations to the government in that regard.
Efforts to contact the Chairman of Electoral Commission, Gerald Watt proved futile but SKNVibes understands that the ALP has filed an injunction with regard to the outcome of the election.
Antigua News