Antigua and Barbudans are voting Thursday to elect a new government.
The 164 polling stations opened at 6:00 am (local time) and will close 12 hours later. Electoral officials said that 47, 721 people are eligible to cast ballots for candidates representing six political parties although the race is seen as a straight fight between ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) and the main opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP).
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer is seeking a third consecutive term in office, but the ALP under the new leadership of businessman Gaston Browne is seeking to reverse its fortunes after having been swept out of power in 2004.
We did it! We did it! ABLP 14 seats. This victory is a lesson to incumbent government that power belongs to the people and that if after 14 years you cannot deliver, we will vote you out and elect a business minded team. Yours is coming Skerrit ! Remember the same Wickham that predicted 14 seats to the ABLP is the same one that predicted 8 seats for the DLP!!!
10 years is enough for any gvernment.
NOt even skeritt himself ,feels confident about winning like his supporters ,
he is so afraid ,not so much for loosing ,like for the consequences he is about to face, and he will sacrefice souls to make sure he win,so dream on labourites ,some day ,
YIME will tell
FLY olyou kite
all cow have their saturday,
and all donkeys are not asses
Mr Spencer is a good leader no need for change UPP all the way Dominican leaving in Antigua we love our pm mr Spencer
@New jersy, I agree with you that Mr. Spencer is a good PM, and well respected, but after two terms in office his time is up. He has repaired the corruption infection that plagued us under those Birds but he has no answer to the economy. Like the UWP of Dominica that is comprised of business minds with the leader of ALP being a successful businessman himself, we need to give him a chance and based on early reports of polls, I can tell you that Mr. Browne is looking very, very, very good.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The people of Antigua & Barbuda chose change over continuity when they overwhelmingly voted for the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) on Election Day June 12.
With a high voter turnout of over 90 per cent in some constituencies, the ABLP won by an almost two to one margin in some constituencies ending a 10-year return out of the cold.
The party took victory in dominant fashion. Up to press time, the ABLP had been declared winner in 14 of 17 constituencies against the United Progressive Party’s (UPP) two seats. There were 47,721 eligible voters.
If more reasons are required why we need to clean the voters in Dominica, the situation in Antigua makes the case absolutely clear. Antigua with a population of about 88000 people has 47721 registered voters, whereas Dominica with a population of about 70000 people has about 65000 registered voters. Isn’t that absurd? We need a clean and accurate Voters list to reflect all qualified Voters over 18 years to ensure free and fair elections in Dominica
How many people votes on average in Dominica Mr. Valley Man??
Why? Antigua did not want foreigners to vote,
@ Dom/Anu am happy to know that you are voting for Mr. Brown cause I know Anu has fallen and you know why is the bad representation and the none understanding of economics by that leader that’s why you have to that route but here it is the same ideology that the current Anu has is the same adaptation UWP has so in other words you saw what it did in Anu but you will turn the same wrong on Dominica but its your right so cast your vote when that time comes for one day you will want to return home to retire so vote to make sure when that time comes there is no Dominica to retire too its your choice but with your choice you will have to live the rest of your life in Anu.
@real possie, Your name tells me that you are from Portsmouth and if you have any pride for your town and mind that understands politics and progress you would be voting out Skerrit. I am in Dominica 4-5 times a year and I can tell you that Portsmouth proper is the worse I have seen it. In fact apart from the unemployment that looms over Portsmouth, you guys have a murder or crime every week under the DLP. I still intend to retire in Dominica, but based on what I am seeing, I have to think twice especially if the political trend continues. FYI I don’t blame Spencer for the fall altogether as we all know that Mr. Sanford was everything in Antigua under those Birds and as soon as he was caught things fell apart. Mr. Spencer restored our image but has not been able to restore our commerce and therefore we will try Mr. Browne who is a businessman and has a very strong business mentality. So stop your foolishness my friend! When I look at Portsmouth today, it’s an embarrassment to hear that Skerrit will still win there. Life experience will tell us that if we keep doing the same thing for many years and getting the same disappointing result, we need to try something different if we want a different result. The same old same old will always yield The same old same old result.
@ real Possie, I forgot to tell you that the policies of the current ALP under MR. Browne are much similar to that of the current UWP under Lennox Linton. As a matter of fact the current ALP did not want Skerrit or the DLP to even campaign here for them as was the norm in previous years because they did not want to be viewed as a repeat of the same corrupt team of Bird, which is who Skerrit is compared to in Antigua. The DLP was asked to stay away although 25% of voters are from Dominica roots
I heard the same, from some Avtiguans.
So why was brown in Dominica praising the PM and the DLP? please you know what this is going no where with you am done this is not educating me so I will just chuckle when I see your posts.
Why don’t you do people a favour and refrain from commenting because you have no idea what you talking about, fool.
Thank you papa dom, thank you very much!!!!
Ok, as promised here is what DNO published: Dominica News Online – Thursday, November 4th, 2010 at 1:59 PM: “On Friday… I will be meeting with the officials of LIAT to seek to finalize the issue of they coming into Dominica, particularly from Antigua and Barbados at night, and I have no doubt that we will have positive results at those discussions on Friday,” he stated.
The prime minister took the opportunity to defend government’s decision to introduce night landing at the Melville Hall Airport as opposed to the construction of an international airport.
“There has been a debate among us, in the country and outside of Dominica, as to whether it is a waste of money to put at the Melville Hall Airport. Now, we’ve been waiting for an international airport for the last 25 years, more than that…. I believe that if we had taken that action 25 or 30 years ago to put night landing at Melville Hall back then, the issue of international airport today would not have been a matter for discussion because we would have that international airport,” he stated.
He added: “And this government is not opposed to an international airport as we’ve said…. But we have to appreciate that the airport cost money. So everybody’s saying we should build, we should build, we should build, but nobody is telling us how we should be build it and where we’re getting the monies to build the international airport.”
The prime minister believes that at an estimated cost of over US$400 million, obtaining funds for an international airport through borrowing is not a viable option as it will put the country into further debt
It is shocking that less than 4 years ago, after Skerrit dumped over $100 Million dollars at Melville hall, which is proving to be a failure, he is now gimmicking about building an international airport today. Can you imagine how far the monies dumped on night landing and State house would have brought us on an international airport? One would have to be paralyzed in their brain to even think of voting Skerrit again. Although Mr. Spencer is not as corrupt and incompetent as Skerrit, I believe Spencer needs a break to see if Mr. Browne can help our stagnated economy while Skerrit deserves a permanent exit from politics.
Dom/Anu,
What did Skerrit say there that implies he is not interested in an international airport?? He is absolutely correct, we cannot borrow $400M to build one so establishing the night landing at Melville Hall would solve in the short to medium term our issue of access. I travel alot and the most painful thing for me was to land at VC Bird Int’l at 7pm only to be told sorry Dominica airport close therefore you must overnight in Antigua at your own cost!
That wasn’t Skerrit fault, we’ve had at least 6 Prime Ministers before Skerrit took the reign and none of them built an international airport. You left the island 35 whole years ago, so maybe you lost track of how things were on this island… we were considered backward!!!
Skerrit is on the right path, whilst we wait for the building of the International airport lets get people into Dominica morning, noon or night, in order words whilst we waiting on the food to cook lets have a snack so we don’t die of hunger!!!
And just so you know Dominica only contributed $8M out of the $100M spent on melville hall, the rest was GRANT financing from EU and other friendly countries!!!!
You can come and vote for your Lennox, but we the masses in Dominica will vote back Roosevelt Skerrit and the DLP for another 5 years based on the REAL issues which is the current infrastructure and Social programs that we are encountering, not the HATE that Lennox and his UWP team Dominica keep spewing about Skerrit… Even Lennox say he will continue on the path so where is the change in that??
Nuff said!!!
To think because I love the ALP in Antigua I should like the DLP in Dominica is pure crap! An election is suppose to be about issues, vision and candidates…never party. Although I am based in Antigua, I visit Dominica at list 4 times a year and I am very familiar with the issues. In Dec. of 2009, I came home to vote the DLP because 1. I did not think UWP was ready 2. Skerrit I thought deserved another chance. However, in Nov, of 2010, while Skerrit was meeting with DIAPORA, he made some statements that really left me questioning his vision. At that meeting I remembered he made statements to the effect that Dominica should have addressed night landing 25-30 yrs ago, and if we did, there would be no need for international airport conversation, because night landing would solve that problem, that would cost us about $400 million dollars for International airport. I am not quoting him verbatim but words to that effect. I know that story was on DNO and I will try to get it later. That statement bothered me because by living in Antigua, I understood how an international airport was important for the development of these small islands and quite clearly Skerrit did not have international airport on his agenda neither did I hear a thing that gave me the impression that he had plans for Dominica.
@ Dom but I think you did not hear right cause if you looked the manifesto u will see what the plan was for an inter airport, question do know how long it will take for that inter airport to be built and running it will take years so what are we to do in the mean time? boss with these ideology you all have there I see why you all follow the people you all follow that’s why I say I cant blame the uwp reps cause is people like you that have them talking and thinking the way they do.
@ real possie, I can tell you may be suffering from brain efficiency. I told you what the man said and I also published what DNO recorded. The international airport was on the DLP manifesto of 2000 under Rosie but I never saw it in 2005 or 2009. If for any reason it was there in 2005 and up to this day nothing has been done about it and the PM who seems to have signed a deal on our behalf does not even know where he going to build it. Stop Fooling yourself and say things you have no legs on.
@ real possie, If you have a small house that is not leaking and not falling, but is too small for your family would you not plan to build a bigger house.? If the new house you intend to build will cost $400K, but all you have is $150K, would you use that $150K to make the small house look better, knowing very well that it CANNOT solve your problem or would you not use the $150K to start to mavbe buy land for the new house? That’s exactly what Skerrit did and stop defending him
Real Possie, Skerro cannot get a third term, his track record is bad. Bad x bad x bad is worse. He aint gonna change. The man fixed up himself already, right now all he need is dineros to maintain and pay off his debts.
Did you know that 20 percent are of Dominican origin or Dominicans by birth?
If you did not known before you know now.
Before Felix henderson etc Es ou Tan ki was the one giving news increole on DBS’s GIS.
What a dif today makes compared to EL’s time SMH lol
An election should never be based on name of party but rather, the individuals going up, their vision and track record, So while I support and will vote The ALP in Antigua today, I will do the opposite in Dominica next time I vote because Lennox and the UWP have a much clearer vision and Team Dominica looks like a much more honorable team than team Skerrit and the DLP. Let’s vote issues folks and not party. If you are in Antigua and have not voted, please vote Mr. Browne and the ALP but when it is time to vote in Dominica, let’s save our country and vote out Skerrit and the DLP. Skerrit has failed Dominica full time and needs to be taught a lesson.
Why would you as a resident of Antigua for 35 years be allowed to vote in Dominica?
I have been living outside Dominica for as long as you have and I would never dream of voting in Dominica until I return to make my home there.
You should be ashamed of yourself to publicize the fact that you are fragrantly breaking the laws of Dominica.
@educator, you really need to educate yourself about the laws of Dominica. Which law am I breaking? You only seem to have seen I living in Antigua for 35 years but did not see where I said I visit Dominica 4-5 times EVERY year! If I accepted a ticket from any political party or bribed by anyone, then I would be breaking the law (By the way that’s why Skerrit needs to go because he keeps buying votes year in year out). However, I never took their free ticket even when it was offered to me in 2005 and 2009, when I voted DLP. My name is on the voters list and as long as it remains there, I will come to cast my vote. If you don’t like it then you need to push for a clean up of the election list.
I am a proud Dominican living and working in Antigua for over 35 years. When I was in Dominica I voted the DLP but when I moved to Antigua I supported the ALP, until I turned against the corruption of the Birds in 2004 and voted UPP. When I cast my ballot later today, I shall vote the DLP under the leadership of Mr. Browne. However, when the elections are called in my home country of Dominica, I shall be present to do the opposite of what I did in 2005 and 2009, when I voted the DLP. This time around I will be voting Mr. Linton and the UWP because Skerrit has proven to all of us the he is not concerned about developing Dominica; he is just concerned about staying in power to enrich himself.
I do hope the ALP wins tonight but I want to ensure the UWP wins in Dominica. They are two different island and therefore our issues and concerns are different.
I accept your reasoning for casting your VOTES as you see fit and no one should disrespect your decision.
Today we in Ontario Canada are also voting for a new Provincial Government
thats the same thing u will be doing in dominica,just a confused individual and when u realize the uwp has let you down u will be crying back for the dlp.but am sorry to tell u that uwp wont be winning anytime soon in dominica.
Feeling sorry for you bro, as usual you are wearing your poverty and ignorance as a badge of honour.
And………
And thats because you care more about Antigua where you made your home. And because Dominica rising higher than Antigua you want to send us back down. But no we going all the way with the Dominica Labour Party. And the ALP giving you false hope just like the uwp because they are on the outside looking in. So dont vote for people who has been out of the fire vote for those in the fire feeling the heat they know what they talking about.
Trust me those guys not feeling no heat, they have set up themselves nicely and right now they are looking forward to making some geothermal Euros. Open allyou eyes Dominicans.
Is medical marijuana legal in Antigua?
Or is this D/an-Antiguan hallucinating he keep mixing up Brown with DA or is he a UWP ite like Skerrit lennox the president, etc were DFP-ites before some UWP ites drank the UWPcoolade-Hope it does not develop into a Jim Jones ting/
My fellow Dominicans, I just casted my ballot for Hon. Gaston Browne. Based on the large voter turn out I saw, I feel very confident about an ALP victory tonight. I realized I got more thumbs down by thumbs up, but I am not surprised because in Dominica we DON’T vote issue but party and no wonder Dominica keeps regressing. Another reason why u all gave me thumbs down is because UWPites in Dominica would expect me to vote UPP and DLPites would want me to vote ALP but reject UWP in Dominica. So I know I offended both sides. Spencer did a good job in restoring our image that was destroyed by those Birds but has not been able to address the economy. I voted Mr. Browne because the country needs commerce and as a successful businessman we feel he is the better of the two at this time just as I feel Lennox is the better of the two in Dominica. Dominica’s name today is as bad as Antigua’s in the late 90’s and we voted them out and out they are for good! That’s exactly how Skerrit MUST be treated or else Dominica will be lost for good. Anyways let me go get ready for the victory party tonight.