The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) categorically and unequivocally rejects the false, reckless and malicious statements recently made by Bruce Goodwin, a former Chairman of ABEC, on the programme Eye on the Issues, hosted by Louisa Tully, in which he sought to attack the independence of the Commission and the legitimacy of the General Elections held on 30 April 2026.
The allegations aired are grave, wholly unsubstantiated, and entirely devoid of credible evidential foundation. They must be rejected in their entirety.
ABEC states without ambiguity that its policies, systems and operational procedures are lawful, transparent and institutionally independent. The Commission has not been captured by the State, is not subject to partisan control, and its systems are not linked in any way to any apparatus of the State for any improper purpose. Any allegation to the contrary is false, scandalous and deeply irresponsible.
It is especially regrettable that these assertions have come from a former Chairman of the Commission, a person who ought to understand both the constitutional importance of ABEC’s independence and the damage that reckless public misinformation can do to public confidence in democratic institutions. Public commentary of this sort, unsupported by fact and advanced in such inflammatory terms, is not an act of public service. It is an attack on the integrity of the electoral process itself.
ABEC further affirms that its conduct, procedures and decision-making processes are open, reviewable and consistent with acceptable democratic standards. The Commission’s work is transparent and clean, and that fact would have been apparent to and verified by the observer groups involved in the last elections at the local, regional and international levels. Attempts to discredit the Commission through sensational and unsupported allegations cannot alter that reality.
The Commission also rejects entirely the offensive imputation cast upon the Supervisor of Elections, the Commissioners, the diligent members of staff and scrutineers, who have worked professionally, honourably and tirelessly in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities. These men and women are entitled to have their reputations protected against falsehood, innuendo and politically charged misrepresentation.
ABEC wishes to make one matter perfectly clear: if any person has credible evidence of electoral wrongdoing, the proper course is to place that evidence before the competent authority. The dissemination of serious accusations in the public domain, without proof and in a manner calculated to inflame suspicion and disrepute, is a reckless abuse of public commentary and an affront to responsible democratic engagement.
The Commission therefore calls upon the public to disregard Mr. Goodwin’s allegations and not to mistake noise, repetition and provocation for proof. ABEC remains steadfast in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory mandate and will continue to uphold the highest standards of impartiality, legality, transparency and electoral administration. ABEC will not tolerate the reckless poisoning of public discourse by falsehood and manufactured scandal.
The Commission calls for Mr. Goodwin to retract the statements which are unfounded, irresponsible and damaging. The Commission rejects them utterly and will take whatever legal action is necessary to defend its independence, its officers and the integrity of the electoral process. -END-