Antigua PM predicts election victory

Governing party for Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (AB&LP) foresees no problems in winning the snap election that may be held in October this year. Norman Thomas, press secretary to Prime Minister Lester Bird, told Newsday yesterday that the preliminary meetings held in the constituencies have been “very encouraging”. Thomas added, “There is no doubt that Prime Minister Bird and the Antigua Labour Party will return to office after visiting the polls.” Earlier this week Bird announced his intentions of dissolving the Parliament and calling a snap election following the resignation of four backbenchers of his party. Sherfield Bowen, Langford Jeremy, Bernard Percival and Hilroy Humphreys withdrew from the AB&LP on Tuesday and informed the Governor General of their intentions to sit as Independent members in Parliament. Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir James Beethoven Carlisle, gave Bird one month in which to provide numbers showing that he holds the majority votes in Parliament. If the numbers show otherwise, Bird will dissolve the Parliament and call elections in October. However, nine Parliamentary members of the AB&LP including Bird yesterday signed a solidarity pact in which they voiced strong support for the Prime Minister. Bird said, “By this document we have reinstated the ALP Government as majority Government in the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda.”

Another Minister Rodney Williams who is currently overseas has also agreed to sign this new pledge of confidence and support. Bird added that a more definitive statement would be issued later. In response to statements made by Opposition Leader Baldwin Spencer that the calling of the snap-elections is “politically immoral” and was called to avoid facing a no-confidence motion, Bird replied that Spencer is entitled to his own opinion. Spencer is the leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) which holds four of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives. Regarding the resignation of Senator Asot Michael on Thursday, Thomas stated that Michael was asked to resign as a result of the unwillingness of many Cabinet ministers to work with him. Thomas said that those ministers objected to the level of power Michael wielded causing Bird to ask for his resignation. Michael formerly held the positions of Minister of Public Works and Junior Finance Minister.