Parliament Dissolved, Election Clock Begins Ticking

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Parliament Dissolved, Election Clock Begins Ticking
Parliament has officlially been dissolved (photo by Caribbean Journal)

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.

This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2026/04/01/parliament-dissolved-election-clock-begins-ticking. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (5)

  • Norissa April 1, 2026, 6:52 PM

    Now they gonna disturb my peace ✌️ in the morning allow me to sleep oh murder im already screaming i wan my sleep don’t disturb
    Reply
  • Amethisyah April 1, 2026, 7:37 PM

    And now the mass give aways to buy votes begins…
    Reply
    • Donna April 1, 2026, 10:34 PM

      One vote they cannot buy or bride is mine. They need to put taxpayers money into improving the country infrastructure, water supply, and healthcare. Then the other areas of the country fall in lines after those three main areas showed some improvement.
      Reply
  • JP Farnsworth April 2, 2026, 11:54 AM

    If the pothole is big enough to swim in will they say I have a pool and raise my property tax?
    Reply
  • Juju Bee April 2, 2026, 9:23 PM

    Tick tock Tick tock Labor party back in power
    Reply

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