Browne Rejects Claims Money Decided Election Outcome

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has rejected suggestions that money and gifts played a decisive role in the outcome of the April 30 general election, arguing that most voters in Antigua and Barbuda do not support political parties based on inducements.

Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne said his decades of campaigning experience have shown that only a very small percentage of electors seek gifts from politicians during election periods.

“I can tell the people of Antigua and Barbuda, less than 3% of electors will ask for a gift,” Browne said.

The prime minister said the governing Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party won the election because voters supported its record and policies, not because of campaign spending or alleged bribery.

“This idea that you’re bribing people,” Browne said dismissively before arguing that most voters “have their pride” and do not ask politicians for favors.

“Even if they have needs, they will not ask,” he added.

Browne also pointed to the scale of the ABLP’s election victory as evidence that money alone could not have determined the result.

“Now, when you look at the percentage by which we demolish them … we got 61%. They got 37%. We beat them by 24%,” Browne said.

He argued that allegations of widespread bribery made little sense given the margin of victory, contrasting the result with the much narrower 2023 election outcome.

The ABLP won 15 of the country’s 17 parliamentary seats in the April 30 general election, securing a fourth consecutive term in office.