New party, ABNC, Announces It Will Not Field Candidates in General Election

A second political party has announced it will not contest the April 30th general election, as the Antigua and Barbuda National Congress joins the Democratic National Alliance in sitting out the upcoming poll.

The Antigua and Barbuda National Congress, known as the ABNC, confirmed its decision in a press release issued today, citing its status as a developing political entity still in the process of building its foundation.

“As a new entity, we continue to build, listen and prepare in order to serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda the right way, with steadfast leadership,” the party said in its statement.

While stepping aside for this cycle, the ABNC did not hold back in its assessment of the timing of the election, taking direct aim at Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s decision to call early polls. The party acknowledged the Prime Minister’s constitutional authority to do so but made clear it had reservations about the motivation behind it.

“While Prime Minister Gaston Browne has the constitutional authority to call early elections, we wish to emphatically state that the process should primarily serve the interest of the people and not political convenience or timing,” the statement read.

Despite its absence from the ballot, the party signalled it remains committed to its long-term mission. “We continue in hope for a purposeful future and the opportunity to deliver meaningful change,” it said.

The ABNC is led by Gail Pero-Weston, an Antigua-based attorney who ran as an independent candidate for the St. John’s Rural South seat in the 2023 general election.

The Democratic National Alliance had previously announced it would also not be fielding candidates in the April 30th poll, leaving the contest primarily between the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and the opposition United Progressive Party.