The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) will ratify its full slate of 17 candidates at its upcoming convention on April 12, completing a critical step in the ruling party's preparations for general elections expected within weeks.
According to Antigua News Room, Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed that the candidates have already received endorsement from the party's executive and will be formally approved at the convention as part of efforts to place the organisation in a "state of readiness."
The slate includes both incumbents and new candidates across all constituencies. Browne himself is set to seek re-election in St John's City West.
Several senior ministers are among those returning to contest their seats. They include Sir Steadroy Benjamin in St John's City South, E.P. Chet Greene in St Paul, Charles Max Fernandez in St John's Rural North, and Melford Nicholas in St John's City East.
Other candidates on the slate are Daryll Matthew in St John's Rural South, Maria Browne in St John's Rural East, Rawdon Turner in St Peter, Anthony Smith Jr. in All Saints West, and Randy Baltimore in St Philip North.
Rounding out the lineup are Michael Joseph in St John's Rural West, Michael Freeland in St George, Kiz Johnson in St Philip South, Lamin Newton in All Saints East and St Luke, Dwayne George in St Mary's South, Philmore Benjamin in St Mary's North, and Kendra Chamberlain Beazer for Barbuda.
Browne said the convention will finalise both the candidate lineup and remaining internal party positions, allowing the ABLP to transition fully into campaign mode ahead of the approaching election.
The ratification represents one of the final organisational steps for the ruling party as it prepares to return to voters within a 90-day election window.
