Leader of the Opposition (Antigua and Barbuda)

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Leader of the Opposition
Jamale Pringle.png
Incumbent
Jamale Pringle
since 21 March 2018
AppointerThe governor-general
FormationDecember 1968
First holder Robert Hall
SalaryEC$72,000 per annum

The leader of the opposition, officially the leader of His Majesty's Opposition, is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda that is not in government. The Leader of the Opposition is appointed by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda.

Contents

Appointment and disqualification

The Governor-General must select the opposition leader, except when there aren't any House members who are against the government. When the need for a opposition leader arises, the Governor-General must appoint the member of the House who, in their opinion, is most likely to be supported by the majority of House members who oppose the government; or, if no member of the House appears to them to be so supported, the member of the House who, in their opinion, is most likely to be supported by the largest single group of House members who oppose the government provided that the Governor-General may, acting in his discretion, appoint any one of the two or more members of the House who oppose the government as opposition leader. In exercising this discretion, the Governor-General shall be guided by each member's seniority based on the number of years of service as a member of the House and by the votes cast in favor of each at the most recent election of members. [1]

If it is essential to select a opposition leader between the time that Parliament is dissolved and the day that the members of the House are subsequently elected, the appointment may be made as if Parliament was never dissolved. The Governor-General must remove the opposition leader from office if it appears that they can no longer gather the support of the largest group of members of the House who are against the Government or the majority of members of the House who are against the Government. [1]

Role

The opposition leader has the following constitutionally mandated responsibilities: [1]

Leaders of the Opposition

NameTook officeLeft officePartyNotes
Robert Hall December 1968 [2] 1970 PLM
George Walter 19701971 PLM
Ernest Williams 1971 [3] 1976 ABLP
George Walter 19761979 PLM [4]
Robert Hall 19791984 PLM [4]
Eric Burton 19841989 IND [4] [5]
Baldwin Spencer 19892004 UPP [4]
Robin Yearwood 20042006 ABLP [4]
Steadroy Benjamin 2006March 2009 ABLP [4]
Lester Bird March 2009December 2012 ABLP [4]
Gaston Browne December 2012June 2014 ABLP [6]
Baldwin Spencer June 2014March 2018 UPP [4]
Jamale Pringle March 2018 [7] Incumbent UPP [4] [8]

Timeline

Jamale PringleGaston BrowneLester BirdSteadroy BenjaminRobin YearwoodBaldwin Spencer (politician)Eric BurtonGeorge WalterRobert Hall (Antiguan politician)Leader of the Opposition (Antigua and Barbuda)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Government of Antigua and Barbuda". ab.gov.ag. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  2. ↑ Gascoigne, Joseph Michael. "Partyism and Polarisation: A History of Antiguan Political Culture, 1967-1976" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Official Records". UN General Assembly. 1974.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Caribbean Elections | Antigua and Barbuda Opposition Leaders". 18 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-18.
  5. ↑ "Sir Eric Burton, KCN". My Hudson Valley. 20 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "Gaston Browne Is Antigua's New Opposition Leader". www.radiojamaicanewsonline.com.
  7. ↑ "Harold Lovell steps down as UPP leader a day after Party lost general elections". WIC News. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Antigua and Barbuda: Opposition leader sworn in | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda .

See also

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