Randy Baltimore of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) is maintaining a commanding lead in the St. Philip North by-election, with results from four of the seven ballot boxes now tallied. According to Antigua News Room, preliminary figures show Baltimore with 543 votes — representing 67.96 percent of ballots counted so far — while United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate Alex Browne has received 256 votes, accounting for 32.04 percent.
Baltimore has led in each of the four boxes processed to date. Election officials are continuing the count as the remaining three boxes are tabulated to determine the final outcome.
The ABLP candidate's advantage has grown steadily throughout the evening. Earlier in the count, results from the first two boxes showed Baltimore leading 143 to 86 and 156 to 82, respectively. The third box added a further 117 votes for Baltimore against 33 for Browne, bringing his cumulative total to 416 votes compared to Browne's 201 at that stage.
The by-election was called following the retirement of longtime St. Philip North Member of Parliament Sir Robin Yearwood, whose departure from the House of Representatives brought to a close a parliamentary career spanning roughly five decades. Voting on the day was described by election authorities as slow at times but steady throughout.
Additional results are expected as officials continue processing the remaining ballot boxes.
