Antigua's incumbent party suffers first electoral defeat in 28 years

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): Outgoing Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird conceded defeat early Wednesday after his incumbent Antigua Labour Party (ALP) suffered its first defeat in 28 years in Tuesday's general elections.

United Progressive Party (UPP) leader Baldwin Spencer is set to be sworn in as prime minister later Wednesday by the Governor-General of this former British colony. 

The UPP won 12 of the 16 constituencies on Antigua, but fresh elections will have to be held in the sister island of Barbuda because the Bird and Spencer tied at 400 votes each, said Elections Commission deputy chairman Bruce Goodwin.

The candidates opted for a fresh poll in Barbuda after they decided against a recount of the ballots, Goodwin said. 

But that tie on Barbuda would not change the UPP's overal victory.

Bird conceded defeat in a three-minute statement read to reporters in the predawn hours at his residence. In response to the lone question he permitted, he said the election was not based on ALP's track record of progress. 

"There is no doubt that the Labour Party performed, but this election was not contested on the basis of issues. It was contested on the basis of 'it's time to give someone else a chance,' and obviously the people spoke," Bird said. 

In a victory speech to thousands of supporters, Spencer said his administration would not embark on a witch-hunt or denigrate members of the ALP administration, but would ensure that suspects be brought to justice. 

"Vanquished political leaders ought not to be disgraced ... but at the same time crimes against the people must be punished," Spencer told his followers dressed in UPP blue who flooded the streets, dancing and praying. 

The UPP's campaign centered on wiping out corruption, reviving the ailing tourism-dependent economy, stimulating private investment and providing help to the poor and jobless. 

Antigua and Barbuda, a former British colony in the north-eastern Caribbean, has a population of 68,000 and a voting population of some 43,000.

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