Antigua and Barbuda is officially on the road to general elections after Governor General Sir Rodney Williams signed a proclamation dissolving Parliament on March 31, 2026, with the dissolution taking effect today, April 1.

The proclamation was published this morning in an Extraordinary edition of the Official Gazette and was issued on the advice of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the Constitution.

Under the Constitution, at least 21 days must pass between the issuance of the Writ of Election and the holding of a general election, and a general election must be held within three months of dissolution.

The Prime Minister has previously indicated that elections would take place 21 days after the writ is issued.

The Prime Minister had previously indicated he initially intended to move sooner but reconsidered after colleagues recommended giving the main opposition, the United Progressive Party, additional time to finalise its slate of candidates and organise its affairs.

The decision to dissolve Parliament now comes ahead of the constitutional deadline. The last general election was held on January 18, 2023, and while the next election was not strictly required until 2028, the Prime Minister holds the authority to call elections earlier by advising the Governor General to dissolve Parliament.

With Parliament now dissolved, all eyes turn to the announcement of an official polling date.