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The United Progressive Party is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It was previously led by Baldwin Spencer, it was the governing party from 2004 to 2014. It has been in opposition since the 2014 election. Jamale Pringle was elected leader of the party on 21 April 2024, after the resignation of Harold Lovell on 20 January 2023.
Elections in Antigua and Barbuda take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy.
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda is the presiding officer in the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. Prior to conducting any other business, the House must elect a Speaker at its first session following a general election. If the position of Speaker becomes vacant at any point before the next dissolution of Parliament, the House must elect a replacement as soon as is practically possible. The Speaker may be chosen from among House members or from among individuals who are not House members but are eligible to serve in that capacity. Before conducting any other business other than electing the Speaker during the first meeting following a general election, the House shall elect a member to serve as Deputy Speaker. If the position of Deputy Speaker becomes vacant at any point prior to the next dissolution of Parliament, the House shall, as soon as is practically possible, elect another member to fill the vacancy. A minister or parliamentarian cannot be elected as the speaker or deputy speaker of the house by the house. When the position of Speaker is open, the House may not conduct any business.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB), is a unitary constitutional monarchy, where the Monarch of Antigua and Barbuda serves as the head of state, represented by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda serves as the head of government.
Sir Robin Yearwood KGCN is an Antiguan politician and member of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). Entering Parliament in 1976, Yearwood served as Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in the ALP administration until a cabinet reshuffle in 1987 saw him take over Vere Bird, Jr.'s portfolio for Aviation, Public Information and Public Utilities. Despite a failed attempt to oust the Prime Minister he retained this position, and kept it when he became Deputy Prime Minister on 9 September 2002 and Minister of Finance a year later. Following the ALP's loss in the 2004 election, Yearwood was one of only three ALP members left in the lower house, and became Leader of the Opposition. He held this position until 2006, when he was replaced with Steadroy Benjamin.
Gaston Alphonso Browne is an Antiguan politician serving as the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda and leader of the Labour Party since 2014. Before entering politics, he was a banker and businessman.
Sir Gerald Owen Anderson Watt KCN KC is an Antiguan politician and a former cabinet minister. Watt represented St. John's Rural East in parliament from 1971 until 1976 and is a former chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission. Watt has also served as attorney general (1971-1976) during his time as Minister of National Security, Labour, and Legal Affairs. Watt was the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 25 June 2014 until 18 November 2024. He can be considered bipartisan.
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 18 January 2023 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The Labour Party (ABLP) has held an absolute majority of 15 seats in the House of Representatives after the 2018 general election, with Gaston Browne remaining as prime minister. Browne initiated a constitutional referendum after the 2018 election, which was rejected by voters, and following the death of Elizabeth II in 2022, he announced his intention to organise a referendum for the transition of Antigua and Barbuda to a republican system. Besides ABLP, the United Progressive Party (UPP), Democratic National Alliance, Barbuda People's Movement (BPM), and three independent politicians filed candidacies for the 2023 general election.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda founded on April 18, 2017. The DNA is currently led by former MP and Senator Joanne Massiah. The party was founded after a disastrous leadership race within the United Progressive Party following their defeat in the 2014 General Elections.
Osbert Richard Frederick is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician. He was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne. After his appointment, he was elected the Deputy senate president in the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda.
Edmond Mansoor is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician and physician. He is the former senate president of the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. He has also served as the Minister of State and Minister of Communication and Telecommunications.
The 16th legislature of Antigua and Barbuda is the current parliament, being elected in the 2023 Antiguan general election on 18 January 2023.
Jamale L. Pringle is an Antiguan politician who is leader of the United Progressive Party and leader of the opposition. He is the MP for All Saints East & St. Luke.
Anthony Shamari Smith is an Antiguan independent politician, who was elected as Member of Parliament for All Saints West in the general election held on 18 January 2023 officially nominated by United Progressive Party (UPP). On 15 July 2024, he left the United Progressive Party and became an independent. On 16 July 2024, he was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy by the Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He sworn in before the Governor-General Rodney Williams the same day.
Richard S. Lewis is an Antiguan United Progressive Party politician, who was elected as Member of Parliament for St. John's Rural West in the general election held on 18 January 2023. Lewis contested the 2024 party leadership elections, which he lost to Jamale Pringle.
Sherfield Bowen is an Antiguan United Progressive Party politician, who was elected as Member of Parliament for St. Philip's South in the election held on 18 January 2023. Bowen is the deputy leader of the party.
Rawdon Nirobi Antonio Turner is an Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party politician, who was appointed to the Senate of Antigua and Barbuda for the government on 23 January 2023. He was sworn in as deputy Senate president on 19 November 2024.
On 14 January 2025, a by-election was held in the Antiguan parliamentary seat of St. Peter following the assassination of Asot Michael. It was Antigua and Barbuda's third election since Prime Minister Gaston Browne emerged victorious in the 2023 general election. It was also the second by-election held outside of Barbuda since independence in 1981. At 23:24 AST, the election was called by ABS for Turner.
The political history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the history of political movements and systems of government in Antigua and Barbuda. Since Antigua's colonisation in 1632, the archipelago has seen various governments and political conflicts, as well as democratic backsliding and attempts to redevelop the country. Now, Antigua and Barbuda is a fully independent unitary parliamentary monarchy.
References
- ↑ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission. 19 January 2023.
- 1 2 "READ: Anthony Smith's Resignation Letter". Antigua News Room. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ↑ "Osbert Frederick Takes Oath As New House Speaker". Antigua News Room. 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ↑ ""Cut Me Some Slack" House Speaker Calls For Deputy". Antigua News Room. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- 1 2 Thomas, Latrishka (19 January 2023). "ABLP narrowly escapes defeat in Antigua and Barbuda Election". Loop News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ↑ "Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs".
- ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: Jamale Pringle Remains as Leader of United Progressive Party". Antigua News Room. 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ↑ "Jamale Pringle appoints Sherfield Bowen as the new UPP Deputy Leader". 21 May 2024.
- ↑ "Kelvin 'Shugy' Simon Wins St. Mary's South By-Election, Securing a Historic Second Victory". 25 October 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-02.