Browne Rejects Vote-Buying Claims After Landslide Win, Says Victory Driven by Performance

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has forcefully rejected allegations of vote-buying following his party’s commanding victory in Thursday’s general election, insisting that the outcome reflected public confidence rather than inducements.

The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) secured a decisive mandate, winning 15 of the 17 seats in Parliament, a result widely viewed as one of the most dominant performances in recent political history.

Speaking Saturday night on the “Browne and Browne Show” on Point FM, Browne addressed claims raised by members and supporters of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), who alleged that the distribution of building materials and other assistance influenced voters.

In the immediate aftermath of the election, opposition voices suggested that government programmes—particularly the provision of items such as lumber, plywood and galvanize—amounted to vote-buying or bribery, arguing that such assistance may have swayed sections of the electorate.

The claims have circulated widely in political discussions and on social media, with critics contending that state resources or government-backed initiatives created an uneven playing field during the campaign period.

Browne dismissed the allegations as unfounded, stating that his administration took deliberate steps to avoid any perception of impropriety.

“We had materials and deliberately did not distribute them before the elections,” he said during the programme.

He explained that shipments of building supplies had arrived shortly before polling day but were intentionally withheld until after the vote.

“We have just as much or even more building material than before… and we did not distribute them because we didn’t want anyone to say that we were trying to influence the election,” Browne added.

The Prime Minister went further, arguing that if the election had been about financial inducements, the strategy would have looked very different.

“If it was about buying votes, we would have loaded up candidates with money,” he said.

Instead, Browne said his party made a conscious decision to conserve some campaign resources, including setting aside funds for long-term institutional development.

Browne also maintained that the distribution of materials referenced by critics is part of an ongoing social support and development programme, not an election tactic.

He noted that assistance to residents—such as building supplies—has been carried out periodically over time and is not tied specifically to elections.

“This is an ongoing programme… every couple of months we try to bring in materials to help as many people as possible,” he said.

The Prime Minister argued that the scale of the ABLP’s victory undermines the vote-buying narrative, pointing instead to policy delivery, infrastructure projects and economic management as key factors.

He cited:
•⁠ ⁠Ongoing road and water infrastructure works
•⁠ ⁠Housing development programmes
•⁠ ⁠Expansion of education and scholarships
•⁠ ⁠Economic growth and employment opportunities

“I feel that the people are appreciative of the work that we have done,” Browne said.

Browne also criticized what he described as a lack of evidence behind the allegations, suggesting that opposition figures were deflecting from their own electoral performance.

“I don’t think they are speaking from a position of fact,” he said, adding that the claims were largely “rhetorical.”

He argued that the opposition’s campaign failed to resonate with voters and that internal challenges within the UPP contributed more significantly to the outcome.

“The people have given us a resounding mandate,” he said. “And we intend to honour that trust.”