An online poll cited during the Browne and Browne show on Pointe FM indicates that Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate Randy Baltimore holds a significant lead ahead of the March 16 St. Philip’s North by-election.

During the programme, host Colin O’Neill referenced the results of a WIC News online survey that showed Baltimore receiving about 70 percent of the vote compared with roughly 27 percent for United Progressive Party candidate Alex Browne.

According to the poll discussed on the broadcast, the survey recorded 121 responses in favour of Baltimore and 47 for Browne, with the remaining respondents indicating support for other options or undecided positions.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the results were consistent with internal polling conducted by the governing party.

“We did two sets of scientific polls utilizing two well-known regional pollsters, and they both indicated that we should get in the region 70 percent or more of the votes,” Browne said during the programme.

The St. Philip’s North by-election was triggered by the retirement of long-serving Member of Parliament Sir Robin Yearwood, who held the seat for more than four decades in Antigua and Barbuda.

Voters in the constituency are scheduled to go to the polls on March 16 to select a new representative in Parliament.