Prime Minister Gaston Browne was sworn into office on Friday for a fourth consecutive term as head of government, just hours after leading his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to a convincing victory in the April 30 general election.
Browne, who called the election nearly two years ahead of the constitutional deadline, along with Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, took the oath of office before Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and the other victorious ABLP candidates.
According to figures released by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), the ABLP won 15 of the 17 seats in Parliament, with the other two shared by the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM). Just over 62.5 per cent of the electorate voted.
“That was a resounding victory. People spoke, and they spoke with clarity. They spoke resoundingly, and we’re very happy with the mandate that was given to us,” Browne said after being sworn in, adding: “But with that mandate comes increased responsibility, and it’s a responsibility that we will certainly honour.
“We’ll make sure that we continue to deliver for the people of Antigua and Barbuda. In fact, the fact that I was given a fourth term as Prime Minister is in itself a humbling experience, and it has strengthened my commitment to fight even harder for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and to deliver more for them.”
“So the people of Antigua and Barbuda will be seeing accelerated growth and development, accelerated infrastructural development, and the roadworks and waterworks we have started will be accelerated until we substantially resolve the water and road problems,” Browne added, thanking the population for its patience.
Browne said the remaining Cabinet members will be named on Tuesday, noting there will be “familiar faces” because several ministers are handling significant projects and continuity is important.
“So, for example, I’d want to ensure that we have Minister Daryll S Matthew in Education to continue the expansion…. We certainly want to maintain Minister Chet Greene as Minister of Foreign Affairs because, as you know, a significant amount of planning has gone into the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference scheduled for November, and to put in a new minister at this time would not be advisable.”
He also said his wife, Maria Browne, would continue as Minister of Public Works, citing her capacity to manage multiple projects across constituencies.
Browne added that some newly elected candidates would undergo training as junior ministers before potentially advancing to senior ministerial roles.
“Again, we don’t want to have a bloated government by having all senior ministers. We will have some junior ministers as a form of training and development so that they, too, can blossom into senior ministers eventually and better serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” he said.
Browne called for responsible politics in building a new Antigua and Barbuda, saying: “I’m hoping that with such a resounding victory there will be a new dispensation going forward.
“I’m hoping that our politics will become more civil. I’m hoping that politicians on both sides of the aisle will stand on the truth because, at the end of the day, misinformation, disinformation and falsities are literally eroding the fabric of our society and destroying our country.”
He also said he believes in responsible politics and that the opposition should use the moment to reform, adding that a strong opposition remains necessary for accountability.
“We do not necessarily want a weak opposition. We want individuals with the competence to continue to hold us accountable,” the Prime Minister said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a congratulatory message, said Washington looked forward to continued collaboration with Antigua and Barbuda on shared priorities, including strengthening regional security and cooperation against illegal immigration, transnational criminal organisations and illicit trafficking.
(CMC)
