ABLP may not contest Barbuda seat

Prime minister Gaston Browne said, he is undecided as to whether or not the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party will put forward a candidate to contest the Barbuda seat at the next general elections.
This seat is currently occupied by Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement, (BPM).
Browne told OBSERVER media that as far as he was concerned, losing the Barbuda seat meant “nothing to him,” and the people of Barbuda should not be intimidated by his administration.
“I’m not even sure if I’m going to run a candidate at the next general election. So, they should not see the labour party as a threat. As far as I’m concerned they have power, run the island, and stop creating confusion and chaos,” Browne said.
Even after admitting after the March polls that the government had been “deliberately” “pampering” Barbudans “primarily to get their vote” but still suffered a major defeat, the Prime Minister said, he has been one of the “strongest fighters” for the advancement of Barbuda but now he is taking a stand off approach.
“But I cannot be fighting for you and you killing me. So, I have decided to withdraw and he [Trevor Walker] can run the show and advance the island,” he said.
Browne said his government will still be willing to provide assistance to the island.
 
NOTE: this story has been updated on July 5 to reflect the exact words of the prime minister who, in March, said the government was “deliberately pampering” Barbudans hoping “to get their votes” as opposed to paraphrasing and saying gifts were thrown at Barbudans.
(More in today’s Daily Observer)