Antigua and Barbuda legislative election, 2004
Encyclopedia
The Antigua and Barbuda general election of 2004 was held on 23 March 2004. The election was won by the opposition United Progressive Party
, which defeated the incumbent Antigua Labour Party
. Baldwin Spencer
, leader of the UPP, replaced Lester Bird
as Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Spencer became only the second Prime Minister from outside the Bird family or their Antigua Labour Party.
ended in a draw between the Barbuda People's Movement
, an ally of the UPP, and the Barbuda People's Movement for Change
, an ally of the ALP. Each candidate won exactly 400 votes. A by-election was held on 20 April; Trevor Walker of the BPM was elected, with 408 votes against 394 for the BPMC candidate, Arthur Nibbs
. A third party had also been in the fray in the first round, Barbudans for a Better Barbuda.
An observer team from the Caribbean Community
praised the peaceful vote and said the results "clearly reflect the will of the people". Among recommendations, it urged the Electoral Commission to strengthen its independence. Previous elections in Antigua and Barbuda had been followed by allegations of electoral irregularities favouring the government.
. The Prime Minister, Lester Bird
, had been in office since 1994, when he succeeded his father, Vere Bird
. Vere Bird had been Prime Minister from independence in 1981, and before independence had been Chief Minister or Premier of Antigua from 1960, except for the period 1971-76. Lester Bird was among eight Labour MPs to lose their seats.
The Bird family have been widely accused of corruption and nepotism. The Jamaica Observer noted: "Bird's government had been badly damaged by scandals that in recent years have centred on allegations of bribery, misuse of funds in the national health insurance plan, and a 13-year-old girl's charges that he and his brother used her for sex and to procure cocaine. Bird, 72, denied the last charges and organised an inquiry that found no evidence."
Lester Bird's brother, Vere Bird, Jr.
, was accused of involvement with the Medellin drug cartel in 1989. He lost his Cabinet post, but was not prosecuted.
United Progressive Party (Antigua and Barbuda)
The United Progressive Party is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It is led by Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and has the majority of seats in the Antiguan House of Representatives.-Foundation:...
, which defeated the incumbent Antigua Labour Party
Antigua Labour Party
The Antigua Labour Party is the former ruling political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It has long been led by Lester Bird, who was chairman of the party since 1971, and became Prime Minister and political leader in 1994. The party was founded by Lester's father, V.C. Bird...
. Baldwin Spencer
Baldwin Spencer
Winston Baldwin Spencer is the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. He has been Prime Minister since March 24, 2004, when his party, the United Progressive Party , which he had led as the opposition party for several years, won a parliamentary election...
, leader of the UPP, replaced Lester Bird
Lester Bird
Lester Bryant Bird was the second Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994 to 2004 and a well-known athlete. He was chairman of the Antigua Labour Party from 1971 to 1993, then became Prime Minister when his father, Vere Bird, the previous Prime Minister, resigned.Bird was born on February...
as Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Spencer became only the second Prime Minister from outside the Bird family or their Antigua Labour Party.
Results
The election in the seat of BarbudaBarbuda
Barbuda is an island in the Eastern Caribbean, and forms part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It has a population of about 1,500, most of whom live in the town of Codrington.-Location:...
ended in a draw between the Barbuda People's Movement
Barbuda People's Movement
The Barbuda People's Movement is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda allied with the ruling United Progressive Party.-History:The party first contested a general election in 1989, in which they won a single seat. They held the seat in the 1994 and 1999. In the 2004 elections the candidates of...
, an ally of the UPP, and the Barbuda People's Movement for Change
Barbuda People's Movement for Change
The Barbuda People's Movement for Change is a political party in Barbuda, part of Antigua and Barbuda.At the last elections, 23 March 2004, the party contested the sole seat allotted to Barbuda . The election ended in a draw between BPMC and the Barbuda People's Movement, which both got exactly 400...
, an ally of the ALP. Each candidate won exactly 400 votes. A by-election was held on 20 April; Trevor Walker of the BPM was elected, with 408 votes against 394 for the BPMC candidate, Arthur Nibbs
Arthur Nibbs
Arthur Nibbs is a politician from Antigua and Barbuda. He represents the Antigua Labour Party in the Antiguan Senate. Born in Barbuda, he was educated at the Holy Trinity School and the Antigua Grammar School.-Political career:...
. A third party had also been in the fray in the first round, Barbudans for a Better Barbuda.
An observer team from the Caribbean Community
Caribbean Community
The Caribbean Community is an organisation of 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies. CARICOM's main purposes are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy...
praised the peaceful vote and said the results "clearly reflect the will of the people". Among recommendations, it urged the Electoral Commission to strengthen its independence. Previous elections in Antigua and Barbuda had been followed by allegations of electoral irregularities favouring the government.
Defeat of the ALP
The election saw the defeat of the longest-serving elected government in the CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. The Prime Minister, Lester Bird
Lester Bird
Lester Bryant Bird was the second Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994 to 2004 and a well-known athlete. He was chairman of the Antigua Labour Party from 1971 to 1993, then became Prime Minister when his father, Vere Bird, the previous Prime Minister, resigned.Bird was born on February...
, had been in office since 1994, when he succeeded his father, Vere Bird
Vere Bird
Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. was the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. His son, Lester Bryant Bird, succeeded him as Prime Minister. In 1994 he was declared a national hero....
. Vere Bird had been Prime Minister from independence in 1981, and before independence had been Chief Minister or Premier of Antigua from 1960, except for the period 1971-76. Lester Bird was among eight Labour MPs to lose their seats.
The Bird family have been widely accused of corruption and nepotism. The Jamaica Observer noted: "Bird's government had been badly damaged by scandals that in recent years have centred on allegations of bribery, misuse of funds in the national health insurance plan, and a 13-year-old girl's charges that he and his brother used her for sex and to procure cocaine. Bird, 72, denied the last charges and organised an inquiry that found no evidence."
Lester Bird's brother, Vere Bird, Jr.
Vere Bird, Jr.
Vere Bird, Jr. is an Antiguan lawyer and politician who served as chairman of the Antigua Labour Party and a government minister. He is the son of Vere Bird, the former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and brother of Lester Bird, who later held the same position.Bird entered politics in 1981...
, was accused of involvement with the Medellin drug cartel in 1989. He lost his Cabinet post, but was not prosecuted.