Trouble in Camp: Regis calls for run-off following primary

Just mere hours after the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party signaled that Lamin Newton is set to become the party’s candidate for the All-Saints Constituency in the next general elections, one of his opponents in the primary, Regis Burton, has expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome

Burton has called for a run-off, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the ABLP, E.P Chet Greene, and sent to Prime Minister Gaston Browne

He outlined several shortcomings during the primary that he believes contributed to the unexpected outcome.

Here is what he wrote:

Dear General Secretary,

I am writing to bring to your attention my significant concerns regarding the recent ABLP All Saints West Primary that took place on March 15th, 2024. It is of utmost importance to address the issue of unprofessional conduct during certain aspects of the primary, as it fails to meet the expected standard of integrity within the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.

Upon thorough review and examination of the primary process, it has become evident that several inaccuracies and procedural irregularities have surfaced. To ensure transparency and accountability, it is crucial to outline these concerns for collective consideration:

The initial voters list released by the ABLP Secretariat contained numerous inaccuracies, with certain individuals who were known to be involved being excluded. The revised list was sent out to candidates two days before the Primary Election, but it still had errors where individuals who had paid their registration fees were left out.

The total count of ballots raised concerns as the ABLP Agents indicated 456 ballots, which was subsequently agreed to by the auditors.

The agent of Regis Burton advised that she was not in agreement with the number, however, the ABLP Agent indicated that the agent’s approval was not of importance. After counting, the ballots totalled to 359 votes.

Due to this discrepancy of the number of votes being less than the total number of persons claimed to have voted on that day, and there were no spoiled ballots, the Regis Burton agent did not agree to sign, but instead, wrote that her voters list count was 356.

Additionally, it is imperative to revisit the terms outlined in the attached contract signed by each candidate prior to the primary.

Paragraphs 5 and 6 explicitly state that if no candidate achieves the 50% threshold, the two candidates receiving thectual obligations is fundamental to upholding the integrity of our party’s processes. highest number of votes shall proceed to compete in a runoff. Adhering to these contra

I urge for immediate action to address these concerns; particularly, the scheduling of a run-off as per the contract signed by the three candidates and rectify the discrepancies that have marred the primary process. Failing to do so risks undermining the trust and confidence of our constituents and compromises the credibility of our party.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. It is imperative that we uphold the highest standards of transparency and fairness within our party, and I remain committed to working towards a resolution that reflects these principles.

Best regards

Comrade Regis Burton