The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), led by Lester Bird, won its sixth consecutive general election in March 1999 (in the presence of a Commonwealth observer group), gaining 12 of the 17 seats with 53 per cent of the votes cast. The United Progressive Party (UPP) took four seats, with 44 per cent of the votes, and the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) one seat. Vere Bird Sr, who led the country to independence in 1981 and was Prime Minister until he retired from active politics before the 1994 general election, died in June 1999 at the age of 89. At the request of the Prime Minister, a two-person Commonwealth expert group visited the country in July 2000 to consult the people and review the ‘operations of the arrangements’ between Antigua and Barbuda as established at a constitutional conference at Lancaster House, London, in 1980. In November 2000, at St John’s, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon presented the group’s report and recommendations to the government, saying that implementation of these recommendations would bring an end to long-standing discord between the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. In April 2003 the Electoral Office of Jamaica was engaged to compile a new voters’ list, and collect photos and fingerprints to be used on identity cards in preparation for the next general election. A Commonwealth expert team observed this work and the election itself in March 2004. The UPP won the contest with 55 per cent of the votes and 12 seats, and Baldwin Spencer became Prime Minister, ending a 28-year run of power for the ABLP and the Bird family. In March 2009 the UPP, led by Spencer, was returned to power with a reduced majority, winning nine of the 17 seats and 51 per cent of the votes. The ABLP took seven seats (47 per cent) and the BPM one (one per cent). Turnout was 80 per cent. In the parliamentary elections held on 12 June 2014, the ABLP won 14 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives, decisively ousting the UPP government (three seats). Turnout was 90 per cent. ABLP leader Gaston Browne was sworn in as Prime Minister on 13 June. On 14 August 2014, following the retirement of Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Dr Sir Rodney Williams was sworn in as Governor- General. A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a Local government The Barbuda Council was established under the constitution and is responsible for local government on Barbuda. It consists of nine directly elected members, together with the members of the national parliament representing constituencies on Barbuda and a government-appointed member. It has the power to raise taxes; is responsible for agriculture, forestry, public health, public utilities and roads in Barbuda; and is accountable to the Prime Minister. There is no constitutional provision for local government on Antigua, which comprises six parishes: Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter and Saint Philip. National development plan The National Economic and Social Transformation Plan was formulated with the objective of restoring and maintaining economic stability and mitigating the impact from exogenous shocks. In January 2012 the country embarked on a national consultation prior to the preparation of a new Medium-Term Development and Strategic Plan, which was intended to embody a comprehensive and integrated approach to economic and social planning. Further information Government of Antigua and Barbuda: www.ab.gov.ag Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Governance institutions Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 133 Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: www.eccb-centralbank.org Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange: www.ecseonline.com Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court: www.eccourts.org
CEP template 2012
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