By Robert A Emmanuel
Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon can breathe a sigh of relief after his unprecedented gamble paid off big time for the newbie politician in the St Mary’s South by-election.
After resigning from the post as representative for the area four months ago, he once again emerged victorious last night —this time against a different political rival.
Simon, of the United Progressive Party (UPP), quit as MP in June to bypass a potential lengthy election court case brought against him by the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) which sought to invalidate his membership from the House of Representative on the grounds that his nomination was illegal.
Defeating both Senator Samantha Marshall and now former Senator Dwayne George—once a political ally to the UPP but who switched his party allegiance to Labour – Simon will again return to Parliament representing his hometown constituency.
Simon spoke to Observer media following his second electoral victory in nine months.
“The harder they come, the harder they fall,” he said referring to his opponent. “This [victory] to me is much better, it is by a lesser margin, but it is much better, considering all the millions that they spent in St Mary’s South to try to keep Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon out of Parliament. The people spoke, and I am happy for that,” a jubilant Simon said.
As Antigua’s first by-election since Independence, it was a historic moment for the country.
Supporters from both main parties including Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Senator Samantha Marshall, former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and interim leader of the UPP Jamale Pringle were all seen throughout the day and night eagerly awaiting the final result.
Even St Peter MP Asot Michael made his way down to Bolans to interact with the people in the community and to hear what the result would be.
With all eyes truly on St Mary’s South yesterday, the constituency was abuzz with joy and excitement for the results and as the counting of boxes went from Bolans to Johnson’s Point, it became clearer that Simon had retaken his seat.
“This is democracy at its best in St Mary’s South, so I am happy right now, elated, emotional and so proud to be the parliamentary representative for St Mary’s South once again with big love behind me 102 percent,” Simon added.
Meanwhile, Parliament has once again become a one-seat majority for the Labour Party.
The UPP’s strategy for the by-election was to make it a referendum on the Prime Minister, highlighting the government’s apparent lack of focus on the constituency while relying on Simon’s close connections to the Bolans, Johnson’s Point and Urlings communities.
As the UPP Opposition Leader highlighted to Observer, “We are happy once again to have this constituency in the colour of the United Progressive Party and it is something for us to celebrate and we will be celebrating in grand style with the people of St Mary’s South.
“We used not the financial means—because we do not have it—but we were able to convince the people that this election is not about St Mary’s South but the survival of Gaston Browne; it is about Gaston Browne gaining an extra seat in Parliament, so he has greater control of his Cabinet,” Pringle said.
He added that George’s silence on the airwaves during the campaign period spoke louder than the efforts by the Prime Minister to retake the seat.
In the end, the final vote count was 1,065 for Simon, while George claimed 891, and the DNA’s Andrew Antonio got eight votes. Five ballots were rejected.